This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6432829.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
EU agrees binding energy targets EU 'agrees binding energy levels'
(10 minutes later)
EU leaders have agreed in principle to make targets for renewable energy binding, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has announced.EU leaders have agreed in principle to make targets for renewable energy binding, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has announced.
But Mr Reinfeldt said that first there would be "a discussion on what that means for each member state".But Mr Reinfeldt said that first there would be "a discussion on what that means for each member state".
He was speaking as the leaders of the 25-member bloc met to debate the issue at a summit in Brussels.He was speaking as the leaders of the 25-member bloc met to debate the issue at a summit in Brussels.
They are expected to commit to cutting carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. A European Commission proposal has called for 20% of EU energy consumption to be met by renewable sources by 2020.
The EU leaders are also expected to commit to cutting carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.
'Credibility at stake'
"We have agreed that we need a target for renewable energy supply and that it will be binding," Mr Reinfeldt told reporters after a first working session at the summit.
He said that Germany - which is currently holding the rotating presidency in the EU - would put out a text with the word "binding" in it, the minister added.
The issue had been the main point of contention ahead of the two-day summit.
Several member-states had voicing strong objections to the European Commission proposal.
France, which depends heavily on nuclear power, has been opposed, saying that too should be considered a clean source of energy.
Ahead of the summit, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the EU's credibility hung on its matching words with action to fight climate change.