The European Commission has proposed revisions to the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) for 2026, with Hydrogen Europe welcoming several changes intended to simplify and expand aid for decarbonisation projects. The revised rulebook would remove the EUR 300 million per-year cap for investment aid on climate protection (Article 51) and for energy infrastructure (Article 66), allowing aid amounts to be set by aid intensity in addition to bidding or funding-gap methods. It also aligns with CISAF’s 40% RFNBO quota and enables cumulation and easier funding through financial products. Hydrogen Europe, however, notes critical gaps that must be addressed to maximise emission reductions and investment. These include: adding operating expenditure (OPEX) support and harmonising across aid frameworks; explicitly recognizing hydrogen infrastructure within Article 79 for airports and enabling larger hubs; extending hydrogen-related eligibility within ports (Article 80) to support on-site production; removing the “applied research” category to avoid lower funding rates; enabling targeted aid intensification for regions bearing high transition costs; clarifying administrative rules and procurement thresholds to avoid barriers for in-house contracts. The group also urges top-up funding beyond small-scale projects, greater alignment with CISAF, NZIA, and SET Plan, and keeping hydrogen manufacturing within broader EU state aid frameworks. The article cites Spain’s GBER aid for small-scale projects and notes ongoing discussions around IPCEIs and the Innovation Fund. In summary, Hydrogen Europe supports the direction of the Commission’s proposal but calls for targeted enhancements to fully unlock Europe’s hydrogen economy, with references to Article 32, 79, 80, and related EU frameworks.