Green Hydrogen or Green Colonialism?

This is the new season of the EU Watchdog Radio, where Lora Verheecke and Isabela Franco from Counter Balance join Marcella Via and Joana Louçã from Corporate Europe Observatory.

In this episode, Lora Verheecke speaks with Hikma Bachegour, an Assistant Professor in the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, Morocco and representative of MENAFem. Together, they highlighted the impacts of European hydrogen projects in Morocco and how it risks affecting vulnerable communities, women, and gender minorities, who are too often left out of the decision-making process.

Hikma points out that the current EU approach risks reproducing patterns of green neocolonialism. Under initiatives like the Global Gateway, partnerships are often framed as mutually beneficial, yet the social and economic outcomes remain highly unequal. Africa continues to provide raw materials for Europe’s energy transition, while local communities see no real benefits. She stresses that a truly Just Transition cannot be imported from Brussels but must be co-created with those directly impacted by these projects.

This podcast is produced by CEO and Counter Balance. Both NGOs raise awareness on the importance of good governance in the EU by researching issues like lobbying of large and powerful industries, corporate capture of decision making, corruption, fraud, human rights violations in areas like Big Tech, agro-business, biotech & chemical companies, the financial sector & public investment banks, trade, energy & climate, scientific research and much more…

You can find us wherever you listen to your podcasts. Stay tuned for more independent and in-depth information that concerns every EU citizen!