Months of deliberations and talks concerning low-carbon hydrogen between Germany and France led to advances on Sunday, also marking the of the 60th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty that sought to end centuries of enmity between the two countries by, among other things, requiring regular bilateral consultations and summits to ensure collaboration on core issues.

At a meeting of Franco-German Council of Ministers, the two nations appears to found agreement on a joint road map for hydrogen, reports media Euroactiv.

”While respecting the principle of technological neutrality with regard to the national choice of energy mix, we commit to stepping up our investments in the technologies of tomorrow, particularly renewable and low carbon energies, energy efficiency,” a joint declaration read following Sunday’s meeting.

The bone of contention between the two countries has been France’s insistence on recognition of nuclear-based hydrogen as a potential source, opposed by Germany’s push to strictly define such fuel as green if and only if production is solely powered by renewables.

The declaration illustrates Germany’s step towards accommodating France’s pursuit of nuclear-based hydrogen. 

What such plans mean for the EU’s gas directive or the European power market reform is still unclear.