Strasbourg, 14/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - Following on from its debate on the Buenos Aires Summit on climate change last Monday (see Europe of 12 January, p.11), the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday from seven political groups (EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL, IND/DEM and UEN) urging the EU to continue to lead the way in international efforts to combat climate change and stressing the need to consider protection of the climate in dialogue with partners like the United States, China and India. The Co-President of the UEN group, Cristiana Muscardini, announced, however, that the UEN was withdrawing support for the resolution because the plenary endorsed an amendment tabled by Martin Schulz and Guido Sacconi (PES) expressing disappointment at the repeated comments by the Italian environment minister that it was no point setting binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions post-2012 if the United States, China and India were not involved. The amendment argued that his comments were likely to weaken the EU's position. Forza Italia MEPs also withdrew their support for the resolution, and voted against it, explained Antonio Tajani. Rifondazione coumunista MEP Roberto Musacchio, however, said it was legitimate for the European Parliament to criticise the Bush Administration for being an obstacle to implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. In a press release, Musacchio said the criticism also extended to the Italian government and environment minister Matteoli who had hooked up with the United States.