Brussels, 05/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Swedish Presidency has decided to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Environment Council on Monday 23 November.
Member states' environment ministers will be called to the meeting only a few days before the opening of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen (COP 15, 7-18 December) at which a global agreement for the period after 2012 is to be reached.
Arrangements for taking EU emissions reductions from 20% to 30% by 2020, or final tactical discussions before getting down to crucial international negotiations? The meeting's agenda has yet to be finally decided. The Presidency is giving itself a little more time for reflection. EU ambassadors will meet in the COREPER to determine the exact agenda on 18 November.
Whatever happens, this extraordinary Environment Council - a round table discussion and a lunch - will not adopt any formal decisions. (A.N./transl.rt)