Washington, 26/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - At the conclusion of the EU/USA Summit, the President of the European Council, Costas Simitis, the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi and the President of the USA, George W. Bush made the following declaration on the hydrogen economy:
"We affirm our commitment, on behalf of the United States and the European Union, to collaborate on accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy as part of our broadening cooperation on energy. We aim to enhance the security of energy supply, increase diversity of energy sources and improve local and global environmental quality. Our cooperation will lay the technical, legal and commercial basis needed to accelerate the commercial penetration and trade of emissions-free hydrogen technology world-wide, in cars, buildings and power generation, to secure to our citizens and our posterity the abundant, secure, and clean energy required to sustain growth, ensure security, and protect the environment.
In this context we see the potential of the hydrogen economy in establishing a secure energy supply through clean and environmentally sound systems. We will seek to build on complementaries in our research efforts in exploring actively all technology options, including a major focus on renewable energy sources, for boosting the development of hydrogen energy.
We agree to: further strengthen the goals of sustained economic growth; strengthen our cooperation to work for universally compatible codes, standards and regulations; strengthen our cooperation on research and development; and work together to foster public-private collaboration. This effort will enable us to leverage resources; bring to bear the expertise of the public and private sector to solve the complex challenges surrounding the hydrogen economy; establish sound universally compatible does, standards, and regulations for hydrogen fuel utilisation; and provide a strong and broad foundation for the International Partnership for the Hydrogen economy and other partnerships of the hydrogen economy".