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EU set to agree emission cut plan | EU set to agree emission cut plan |
(30 minutes later) | |
European leaders meeting in Brussels are set to endorse binding measures for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. | European leaders meeting in Brussels are set to endorse binding measures for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. |
Slovenia's PM, who is chairing the summit, said the leaders had approved a timetable to implement an agreed 20% cut by 2020, compared with 1990 levels. | Slovenia's PM, who is chairing the summit, said the leaders had approved a timetable to implement an agreed 20% cut by 2020, compared with 1990 levels. |
He likened the EU's plans to move to a low-carbon economy to a "third industrial revolution". | He likened the EU's plans to move to a low-carbon economy to a "third industrial revolution". |
The summit is also discussing financial instability, as well as liberalisation of the bloc's energy markets. | The summit is also discussing financial instability, as well as liberalisation of the bloc's energy markets. |
Slovenian PM Janez Jansa said the leaders had taken note of a report by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana warning of potential security concerns arising from global warming. | Slovenian PM Janez Jansa said the leaders had taken note of a report by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana warning of potential security concerns arising from global warming. |
The report says climate change will have a growing impact on global security, multiplying existing threats such as shortages of food and water. | The report says climate change will have a growing impact on global security, multiplying existing threats such as shortages of food and water. |
It warns that climate change could cause millions of people to migrate towards Europe as other parts of the world suffer environmental degradation. | It warns that climate change could cause millions of people to migrate towards Europe as other parts of the world suffer environmental degradation. |
EU'S 20/20/20 VISION: KEY AIMS AND POTENTIAL CHALLENGES AIM: 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020AIM: Reduction in energy imports, saving money and increasing energy securityAIM: World leadership in renewable energy technologyCHALLENGE: Government and companies may try to weaken their emissions targetsCHALLENGE: Some countries likely to find renewables targets too ambitiousCHALLENGE: Wrangles likely over technicalities of emissions trading The EU and emissionsClimate change quiz | |
Mr Solana's report "enjoyed a lot of support", Mr Jansa told reporters. | Mr Solana's report "enjoyed a lot of support", Mr Jansa told reporters. |
The EU leaders are considering specific targets put forward by the European Commission in January on how to achieve the agreed 20% cut in greenhouse emissions by 2020. | |
The BBC's Paul Kirby in Brussels says an important barometer for the success of the summit is how far the leaders are prepared to go in implementing those targets. | |
The liberalisation of energy markets is another contentious issue, our correspondent says. | The liberalisation of energy markets is another contentious issue, our correspondent says. |
Germany and France lead a group of countries hostile to calls for the break-up of big energy companies which run both power stations and the distribution networks. | Germany and France lead a group of countries hostile to calls for the break-up of big energy companies which run both power stations and the distribution networks. |
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said there was a general understanding that a European energy market was linked to having a secure supply and promoting renewable energy. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said there was a general understanding that a European energy market was linked to having a secure supply and promoting renewable energy. |
'Med club' | |
Meanwhile a UK proposal to cut sales tax on "green" goods is unlikely to succeed. | Meanwhile a UK proposal to cut sales tax on "green" goods is unlikely to succeed. |
The idea put forward by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown would cover such products as low-energy light bulbs. | The idea put forward by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown would cover such products as low-energy light bulbs. |
Mr Barroso said some countries did not agree with the idea which he described as "a very sensitive issue". | Mr Barroso said some countries did not agree with the idea which he described as "a very sensitive issue". |
He went on to say that he did not want to dismiss the importance of positive discrimination for such products, but alternatives such as rebates might be more suitable. | He went on to say that he did not want to dismiss the importance of positive discrimination for such products, but alternatives such as rebates might be more suitable. |
EU leaders are also discussing the turmoil in financial markets. | EU leaders are also discussing the turmoil in financial markets. |
They are expected to say that the European economy could ride out the current instability, as well as a downturn in the US. | They are expected to say that the European economy could ride out the current instability, as well as a downturn in the US. |
Mr Barroso said it was clear that people felt it was yet "another reason not to allow complacency, but on the contrary to pursue the modernisation of the European economy". | Mr Barroso said it was clear that people felt it was yet "another reason not to allow complacency, but on the contrary to pursue the modernisation of the European economy". |
French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at the talks having secured support from Germany for a watered-down proposal for a Mediterranean Union. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at the talks having secured support from Germany for a watered-down proposal for a Mediterranean Union. |
His aim is to forge closer ties between European countries bordering the Mediterranean and those beyond Europe, including Israel, Algeria and Tunisia. | His aim is to forge closer ties between European countries bordering the Mediterranean and those beyond Europe, including Israel, Algeria and Tunisia. |
The main objection to what some have dubbed "Club Med" was the cost, but there have also been complaints that a Euro-Mediterranean partnership already exists. | The main objection to what some have dubbed "Club Med" was the cost, but there have also been complaints that a Euro-Mediterranean partnership already exists. |
The compromise appears to be an "upgrade" on what already exists and hopes for its success have been carefully lowered. | The compromise appears to be an "upgrade" on what already exists and hopes for its success have been carefully lowered. |