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East-west climate row at EU talks East-west climate row at EU talks
(40 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 have begun a summit in Brussels deeply divided over how much money to offer developing nations to cope with climate change.
At the start of a summit in Brussels, Hungarian PM Gordon Bajnai said sharing the costs equally was "not acceptable". Polish Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski told the BBC Eastern European nations were prepared to block a deal unless richer countries paid their fair share.
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. EU leaders will also discuss how to get Czech approval of the Lisbon Treaty.
Internal riftInternal 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. The EU is keen to reach a united position on climate change ahead of December's United Nations Copenhagen summit, which aims to hammer out a new global climate treaty to replace the UN Kyoto Protocol.
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 href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2009/10/eu_set_for_tough_bargaining.html">Read Gavin's thoughts in full href="/2/hi/europe/8331044.stm">EU's climate and treaty tasks href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/susanwatts/2009/10/newsnight_got_a_mention_this.html">Watts blog: Penny hasn't dropped class="" href="/2/hi/europe/7371840.stm">EU president: Names in the frame EU SUMMIT AGENDA Thursday pm: Climate changeThursday dinner: Lisbon TreatyFriday: Conclusions, including economy and illegal immigration href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/2009/10/copenhagen_countdown_45_days.html">Copenhagen countdown href="/2/hi/europe/6901353.stm">Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8331301.stm">Blair 'excellent' for EU job - PM
"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. Mr Reinfeldt called on EU leaders to agree a "fixed sum" that would open the way for other rich donors like the US and Japan to make similar aid pledges to help developing nations cope with the effects of climate change.
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, Hungarian 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. The Polish finance minister, Jacek Rostowski, told the BBC that nine Eastern European nations were ready to block a deal unless they were allowed to contribute according to their means, not to how much they pollute.
Copenhagen warning 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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2009/10/eu_set_for_tough_bargaining.html">Read Gavin's thoughts in full class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/susanwatts/2009/10/newsnight_got_a_mention_this.html">Watts blog: Penny hasn't dropped class="" href="/2/hi/europe/7371840.stm">EU president: Names in the frame
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. "There are countries there like Bulgaria and Latvia, which are considerably poorer than Brazil, and which would be expected to help Brazil in its adjustments to climate change," he said.
EU SUMMIT AGENDA Thursday pm: Climate changeThursday dinner: Lisbon TreatyFriday: Conclusions, including economy and illegal immigration class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/2009/10/copenhagen_countdown_45_days.html">Copenhagen countdown class="" href="/2/hi/europe/6901353.stm">Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2009/copenhagen/">In depth: Copenhagen summit "We therefore expect the richer countries of Europe to pay a small part of what we consider to be their fair share," he added.
"We do not think it will be possible to decide all the finer details for a legally binding regime," Mr Rasmussen said. Much will depend on the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.
December's eagerly-anticipated Copenhagen Climate Summit will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty to replace the UN Kyoto Protocol. Our correspondent says that until now, the leader of Europe's biggest economy has refused to be pinned down on figures, but arriving at the summit she signalled some flexibility.
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. "I want Copenhagen to be a success," Mrs Merkel said, "but it's crucial that the US and China should also be willing to contribute."
EU targets
The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said he had received a letter from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asking the EU to continue to lead on 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.
Talks last week on how to fund such aid collapsed as EU finance ministers disagreed over how to share the costs. A British government official said the UK would contribute 1bn euros annually from 2013-2020 towards international financing to help poor countries adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact.
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.
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 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.