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| EU leaders brace for tough summit | EU leaders brace for tough summit |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Climate change and the Lisbon reform treaty are set to dominate a European Union summit opening later in Brussels. | Climate change and the Lisbon reform treaty are set to dominate a European Union summit opening later in Brussels. |
| The bloc's leaders will try to iron out their differences over how much each EU member should pay to help developing nations fight global warming. | The bloc's leaders will try to iron out their differences over how much each EU member should pay to help developing nations fight global warming. |
| But Denmark expressed doubts that a binding deal could be reached at December's Copenhagen Climate Summit. | But Denmark expressed doubts that a binding deal could be reached at December's Copenhagen Climate Summit. |
| The Brussels meeting must also decide what to offer the Czech Republic, to complete the Lisbon ratification. | The Brussels meeting must also decide what to offer the Czech Republic, to complete the Lisbon ratification. |
| Czech President Vaclav Klaus is the only EU leader who refuses to sign the treaty, demanding an opt-out from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights. | Czech President Vaclav Klaus is the only EU leader who refuses to sign the treaty, demanding an opt-out from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| We have a risk for a clear deadlock in the negotiations Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt EU's climate and treaty woes EU president: Names in the frame | |
| The Eurosceptic Mr Klaus fears that charter could be used by ethnic Germans to reclaim land they lost in the Czech Republic after World War II. | The Eurosceptic Mr Klaus fears that charter could be used by ethnic Germans to reclaim land they lost in the Czech Republic after World War II. |
| Meanwhile, the Czech Constitutional Court still has to rule on whether the treaty violates the country's sovereignty. | Meanwhile, the Czech Constitutional Court still has to rule on whether the treaty violates the country's sovereignty. |
| During the two-day talks, EU leaders are also expected to discuss who should become the first full-time president of the 27-member bloc of about 500 million people. | During the two-day talks, EU leaders are also expected to discuss who should become the first full-time president of the 27-member bloc of about 500 million people. |
| Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Luxembourg Premier Jean-Claude Juncker have been touted as the leading candidates for the job. | Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Luxembourg Premier Jean-Claude Juncker have been touted as the leading candidates for the job. |
| Danish warning | Danish warning |
| On the eve of the summit, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, urged his counterparts to compromise on agreeing climate aid figures to developing nations. | On the eve of the summit, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, urged his counterparts to compromise on agreeing climate aid figures to developing nations. |
| EU 20-20-20 TARGETS 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 202020% increase in use of renewable energy by 202020% cut in energy consumption through improved energy efficiency by 2020 Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty In depth: Climate change | |
| The European Commission has recommended EU nations pay up to 15bn euros ($22bn; £13bn) a year from 2013 to developing nations to help them cope with climate change. | The European Commission has recommended EU nations pay up to 15bn euros ($22bn; £13bn) a year from 2013 to developing nations to help them cope with climate change. |
| But aid and environmental groups have said Europe should be prepared to pay more than twice as much. | But aid and environmental groups have said Europe should be prepared to pay more than twice as much. |
| Talks last week on how to fund such aid collapsed as EU finance ministers disagreed over how to share the costs. | Talks last week on how to fund such aid collapsed as EU finance ministers disagreed over how to share the costs. |
| "We have a risk for a clear deadlock in the negotiations," the Swedish prime minister said, on the eve of Thursday's summit. | "We have a risk for a clear deadlock in the negotiations," the Swedish prime minister said, on the eve of Thursday's summit. |
| "The emerging economies are looking for financing and without it they will not make the required reduction targets." | "The emerging economies are looking for financing and without it they will not make the required reduction targets." |
| The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says it is unclear how much money the EU is willing to put on the table and who should pay what. | The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says it is unclear how much money the EU is willing to put on the table and who should pay what. |
| Poland and other Eastern European countries say they are too poor to contribute much, our correspondent says. | Poland and other Eastern European countries say they are too poor to contribute much, our correspondent says. |
| The EU is committed to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020 and by up to 30% if other countries join in. | The EU is committed to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020 and by up to 30% if other countries join in. |
| Developing nations have been arguing that industrialised countries should carry most of the burden, because they are responsible for much CO2 emissions. | Developing nations have been arguing that industrialised countries should carry most of the burden, because they are responsible for much CO2 emissions. |
| Ahead of the Brussels talks, Danish Prime Minister Laks Loekke Rasmussen said he did not believe it would be possible to reach a workable deal on reducing greenhouse emissions for the eagerly anticipated United Nations' Copenhagen Climate Summit. | |
| "We do not think it will be possible to decide all the finer details for a legally binding regime that conforms to international law," Mr Rasmussen said. | "We do not think it will be possible to decide all the finer details for a legally binding regime that conforms to international law," Mr Rasmussen said. |
| The Copenhagen conference will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty to replace the UN Kyoto Protocol. | The Copenhagen conference will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty to replace the UN Kyoto Protocol. |
| Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is to miss this week's summit, after he was said to have contracted scarlet fever from a grandchild. | Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is to miss this week's summit, after he was said to have contracted scarlet fever from a grandchild. |