EU seeks to resolve climate rift
October 30, 2009
European Union leaders will try to break an impasse over funding to help poor countries combat global warming on the last day of their Brussels summit.
Sweden's prime minister called on EU leaders to set a fixed sum, paving the way for other rich donors like the US and Japan to make similar pledges.
But a coalition of nine poorer European nations has threatened to block a deal unless richer EU countries pay more.
Earlier leaders agreed a deal to secure the ratification of the Lisbon treaty.
The Czechs were granted an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, similar to that of the UK and Poland.
The Czechs are the only one of the 27 EU nations not to have ratified the treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making and bolster the bloc's role on the world stage.
EU leaders also moved no closer to agreement on a prospective president of the European Council, with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's chances of securing the role receding.
Climate wrangle
The EU is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and by up to 30% if other countries join in.
But the BBC's Oana Lungescu, in Brussels, says that with just weeks to go before the UN climate conference in Copenhagen, Europeans are struggling over how much money to offer developing nations to fight the effects of global warming.
The European Commission has recommended EU nations pay up to 15bn euros ($22bn; £13bn) a year from 2013 to developing nations.
Reports quoting EU sources said the EU presidency would present new proposals on Friday, the last day of the summit.
A draft text released on Friday set a baseline goal for the world climate summit of 100bn euros ($148bn; £90bn) a year from 2020 to help developing countries fight global warming, according to news agency AFP.
Polish finance minister Jacek Rostowski told the BBC that eastern European nations should be allowed to contribute according to their means, not to how much they pollute - otherwise they were ready to block a deal.
"It's a coalition of nine countries and there are countries there like Bulgaria and Latvia which are considerably poorer than Brazil and which would be expected to help Brazil in its adjustments to climate change," he said.
"We therefore expect the richer countries of Europe to pay a small part of what we consider to be their fair share."
Much will depend on the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, our correspondent says.
Until now, the leader of Europe's biggest economy has refused to be pinned down on figures, but arriving at the summit she signalled some flexibility.
"The EU has to make clear its ideas, but it is crucial that the United States and China also make clear what they are willing to contribute," Ms Merkel said.
'Blair hopes fading'
Should the Czech Republic - as now expected - ratify the Lisbon Treaty, it will clear the way for the creation of the post of President of the European Council.
Tony Blair and Luxembourg Premier Jean-Claude Juncker have been touted as the leading candidates for the job.
But the BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels says a lack of support from European socialist leaders has served to undermine Mr Blair's chances.
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