Brussels, 19/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - All done and dusted. It was in record time and without debate that the EU27 heads of state and government confirmed, on Thursday evening 18 June in Brussels, the EU's determination to contribute to concluding an ambitious comprehensive climate agreement in Copenhagen in December (COP 15, 7-18 December). This would mean that it keeps its driving role, its willingness to pay its fair share of financing for climate action in developing countries, and its agreement on the principles for sharing out this financing effort at global level. A decision will be taken later, during the European Council in October, on the amount of European financing and the key for burden sharing among the EU27, depending on how international talks develop. The European Commission has been invited to submit proposals as soon as possible. On this climate change and sustainable development dossier, the European Council conclusions stick very closely to the draft text put to the Council with reference, for the financial chapter, to the guidelines of the Ecofin Council of 9 June (EUROPE 9922).
All recognised that time is running out and that economic recession cannot be used as a pretext for not taking action. On the country: “A coherent response to the challenges posed by both climate change and the economic and financial crisis will open up new opportunities and make it possible to move to a safe and sustainable low-carbon economy capable of generating growth and creating new jobs”, the Council conclusions state. The countdown has begun. The European Council once again calls on all parties to take commitments, to cooperate and to speed up international talks in order to reach an
ambitious and comprehensive agreement within the timeframe set, the aim being to limit global warming to under 2° C.
Fredrik Reinfeldt, Sweden's Prime Minister, told his colleagues that the maximum will be done under the Swedish EU Presidency beginning on 1 July, to reach an agreement in Copenhagen. He plans, with the European Commission, to present a precise work plan setting out the route to Copenhagen.
Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the prime minister of Denmark, who is to host the UN conference in Copenhagen, said he felt optimistic. He nonetheless stressed how important it was for the EU to be “very strong” in informal preparatory meetings to be held on the sidelines of the major G8 meetings (L'Aquila, in July), and the forum of the major economies. Speaking to the press, Mr Rasmussen stressed the importance of close collaboration between Denmark, the future Swedish Presidency and a European Commission that can make proposals as fast as possible - which is why, he said, José Manuel Barroso should have his term of office at the head of the Commission renewed. “I do not need a Commission that is an electoral campaign until the autumn but a Commission that is able to get down to work”, he said. All heads of state and government felt the EU was now on track for Copenhagen.
“We have made progress in the field of climate change. All countries, except the poorest, must finance the fight against climate change in developing countries by sharing out the burden, the criteria being economic performance and the level of emissions. We are open to different financing systems. We must use taxpayers' money efficiently”, said Jan Fischer, the Czech prime minster and outgoing president of the European Council, at the end of the day's business.
“The European project must be supported by the citizens”, added José Manuel Barroso, Commission President, pointing out that the two top priorities are to address the crisis and combat climate change. With the EU energy/climate package adopted in December, “we have harvested excellent results. We have the most ambitious programme in the world”, Mr Barroso said.
Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, welcomed the fact that the decision on the internal breakdown of the financial burden should be put off till October. Warsaw is keen that the responsibility criterion regarding CO2 emissions should not be the basis of calculation, Mr Tusk pointed out, without evoking any alternative criteria at this stage. It is nonetheless understood that the Polish executive prefers only the criterion of GDP or the criterion of emissions reduction.
How is it possible, however, to convince China, an emerging country, to take ambitious commitments (EU expects developing countries - and the most advanced among them in particular - to reduce their emissions by 15% to 30% by 2020 compared to a “business as usual” scenario) if the EU does not set the example by applying to itself the criteria that it recommends at international level? A diplomat was heard to say in the corridor: “If one understands the Polish problem, we must avoid providing China with the argument that kills”.
“We must lead efforts to implement a global deal on climate change, as we've agreed today, moving quickly, as Europe, to a low-carbon economy and improving the European Union's energy efficiency and security”, said Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister.
Silvio Berlusconi, President of the Italian Council, took the view: “It is not fair that 500 million Europeans and 300 million Americans should bear the cost when the rest of the world population continues to behave as it has always done”.
Welcoming Council consensus on the two major principles for a key to the breakdown of financial effort at international level, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the taking into account of both the level of emissions per capita and the wealth per capita will guarantee “the flexibility that is required” in talks.
The WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) found the European Council conclusions disappointing. This NGO for nature protection regrets that the EU gives the impression that it entrusts developing countries with the burden of describing in detail the reasons why they deserve support to combat climate change, before it actually takes any financial commitments itself. The WWF regrets that the Council has, once again, failed to table any figures or detailed mechanisms for fund raising. Jason Anderson, in charge of energy/climate policy at the WWF, said: “The EU is playing a delaying tactic which cannot help ensure an ambitious deal by the UN Copenhagen summit. Europe needs to make progress on the key issues, and not look elsewhere for leadership”. The WWF urges the upcoming Swedish presidency to guide Europe towards Copenhagen, establishing a clear roadmap that does not leave all critical decisions to the final Council before Copenhagen, or to the 11th hour around the negotiating table. (A.N./A.By./M.B./C.D./transl.jl)