Brussels, 18/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - On official visit to Australia until 21 May, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs wants to persuade Canberra to join EU efforts to reach an international post-Kyoto agreement at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December, and to bring together a broad a coalition as possible of developed and emerging countries prepared to shoulder their share of the burden. In an interview with Reuters on Monday 18 May, he said that the EU wanted Australia, which has indicated its willingness to make reductions in its CO2 emissions of 5%, or 25% if all developed countries agree to do the same, to make this conditional commitment a firm commitment to 25%. “We need support if Copenhagen should be a success. If developed countries are dragging their feet, it's impossible to convince the developing world to take action. If Australia makes 25% an official target, at least it will be comparable with the EU target,” he said. The EU is ready to reduce its CO2 emissions unilaterally by 20% and by 30% if the developed countries undertake to do likewise. (E.H./transl.rt)