By Constant Brand / Associated Press
El Paso Times
Article Launched:03/09/2007 12:00:00 AM MST
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- European Union leaders agreed Thursday to establish binding targets for renewable energy, but they put off the issue of how to achieve them, Sweden's premier said.
The leaders agreed they would leave it up to the European Commission to find a way to work out with each country how to achieve its individual binding target, said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
It appeared that some countries might have to share the burden on overall reductions.
Reinfeldt added that the leaders also agreed on reducing carbon emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels.
"We have been able to focus on a lot of objectives. We have concluded that we need a target for renewable energy supply and that it should be binding but there will be a discussion on what that means for each and every member state. The presidency concluded it will put out the text with 'binding' in it," Reinfeldt said.
As the meeting began, Germany sought to preserve an ambitious strategy that aims to cut carbon emissions and to use more renewable energy sources.
Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and France had all voiced strong objections to a binding 20 percent target for renewables by 2020; several wanted nuclear power included as an alternative low-carbon source.
German Chancellor Angela Mer kel, leading the two-day summit, said Europe had much to lose if it did not agree on a tough package of measures including new cuts on carbon dioxide emissions and shift to a low-carbon economy to fight climate change and reduce its dependence on oil imports.
"We have got to go for a sensible solution, for the right policy mix, which will ultimately deliver results for our grandchildren," Mer kel said before the summit began.
She and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the 27-nation bloc had to seek innovative solutions and set a global standard.
"We are now trying to ask the leaders of Europe to rise to the occasion," Barroso said.
Merkel said she expected "very difficult negotiations" between poorer EU members and richer ones over setting binding targets on the use of renewable energy.
An east-west split was emerging at the talks. Poland was leading opposition to a push by Germany, Britain and Italy for the binding 20 percent renewables target by 2020.
"Poland has a very low rate of renewables. Merkel's plan is too ambitious and not feasible," Polish President Lech Kaczynski said.
Poland, the Czech Republic and other Eastern European nations argue that they cannot afford to invest in costly alternative sourc es such as wind, solar or hydroelectric power, and prefer to stay with cheaper, but more polluting options such as coal.
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