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| East-west climate row at EU talks | East-west climate row at EU talks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| EU leaders are battling over how much climate aid to give developing nations, with Hungary and Poland demanding that richer EU states pay most of the costs. | EU leaders are battling over how much climate aid to give developing nations, with Hungary and Poland demanding that richer EU states pay most of the costs. |
| At the start of a summit in Brussels, Hungarian PM Gordon Bajnai said sharing the costs equally was "not acceptable". | At the start of a summit in Brussels, Hungarian PM Gordon Bajnai said sharing the costs equally was "not acceptable". |
| Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt, who is chairing the two-day meeting, said the EU's credibility was at stake. | Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt, who is chairing the two-day meeting, said the EU's credibility was at stake. |
| At the summit, leaders must also decide how to persuade the Czech leadership to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. | At the summit, leaders must also decide how to persuade the Czech leadership to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. |
| Internal rift | Internal rift |
| Mr Reinfeldt called on EU leaders to open their wallets and signal to the US, Japan and other top donors to come forward with their own aid pledges to help developing nations cope with the effects of climate change. | Mr Reinfeldt called on EU leaders to open their wallets and signal to the US, Japan and other top donors to come forward with their own aid pledges to help developing nations cope with the effects of climate change. |
| The main story will revolve around what can be gleaned about Tony Blair's chances to become the first President of the European Council Gavin Hewitt, BBC Europe editor Read Gavin's thoughts in full EU's climate and treaty tasks Watts blog: Penny hasn't dropped EU president: Names in the frame | The main story will revolve around what can be gleaned about Tony Blair's chances to become the first President of the European Council Gavin Hewitt, BBC Europe editor Read Gavin's thoughts in full EU's climate and treaty tasks Watts blog: Penny hasn't dropped EU president: Names in the frame |
| "What I want to see is a more fixed sum that would open the way for others to do their part," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency ahead of the summit. | "What I want to see is a more fixed sum that would open the way for others to do their part," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency ahead of the summit. |
| He warned that a failure to make a clear financial offer could jeopardize the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December. | He warned that a failure to make a clear financial offer could jeopardize the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December. |
| But just hours before the talks, Hungary's Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said sharing the aid costs equally between all 27 EU nations was out of the question. | But just hours before the talks, Hungary's Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai said sharing the aid costs equally between all 27 EU nations was out of the question. |
| "The burden-sharing proposal is not acceptable in its current form," Mr Bajnai said. | "The burden-sharing proposal is not acceptable in its current form," Mr Bajnai said. |
| He was supported by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that other European countries also backed their position. | He was supported by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that other European countries also backed their position. |
| Copenhagen warning | Copenhagen warning |
| Earlier, Denmark's prime minister, Lars Loekke Rasmussen, said he did not think a comprehensive deal on climate change would be finalised at the UN's December summit in Copenhagen. | Earlier, Denmark's prime minister, Lars Loekke Rasmussen, said he did not think a comprehensive deal on climate change would be finalised at the UN's December summit in Copenhagen. |
| EU SUMMIT AGENDA Thursday pm: Climate changeThursday dinner: Lisbon TreatyFriday: Conclusions, including economy and illegal immigration Copenhagen countdown Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty In depth: Copenhagen summit | EU SUMMIT AGENDA Thursday pm: Climate changeThursday dinner: Lisbon TreatyFriday: Conclusions, including economy and illegal immigration Copenhagen countdown Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty In depth: Copenhagen summit |
| "We do not think it will be possible to decide all the finer details for a legally binding regime," Mr Rasmussen said. | "We do not think it will be possible to decide all the finer details for a legally binding regime," Mr Rasmussen said. |
| December's eagerly-anticipated Copenhagen Climate Summit will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty to replace the UN Kyoto Protocol. | December's eagerly-anticipated Copenhagen Climate Summit will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty to replace the UN Kyoto Protocol. |
| But UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that even if no treaty were signed, he was confident a political agreement could be reached in Copenhagen. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Some governments want to base contributions on the size of countries' emissions. | Some governments want to base contributions on the size of countries' emissions. |
| The EU is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and by up to 30% if other countries join in. | The EU is committed to cutting greenhouse gas 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 the majority of CO2 emissions. | Developing nations have been arguing that industrialised countries should carry most of the burden, because they are responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions. |
| The two-day Brussels meeting must also try to seal an agreement for the ratification of the Lisbon reform treaty with the Czech Republic. | The two-day Brussels meeting must also try to seal an agreement for the ratification of the Lisbon reform treaty with the Czech Republic. |
| Czech President Vaclav Klaus is the only EU leader who has yet 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 has yet to sign the treaty, demanding an opt-out from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| 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. |
| The Czech Constitutional Court is expected to rule next week on whether the treaty complies with the country's constitution, clearing the way for Mr Klaus' decision. | The Czech Constitutional Court is expected to rule next week on whether the treaty complies with the country's constitution, clearing the way for Mr Klaus' decision. |
| EU leaders are also expected to discuss who will fill the post of full-time president that the Lisbon Treaty would create. | EU leaders are also expected to discuss who will fill the post of full-time president that the Lisbon Treaty would create. |
| 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. |
| On Thursday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown reiterated his support for Mr Blair, saying he would make an "excellent" first president of the European Union. | On Thursday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown reiterated his support for Mr Blair, saying he would make an "excellent" first president of the European Union. |