EU leaders close to binding deal
(09 March 2007)

EU leaders are said to have agreed to set binding targets for renewable energies at a key summit in Brussels.

After completing the first leg of the two-day summit, Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeld said the 27 leaders had agreed to principle to back mandatory targets.

"We have agreed that we need a target for renewable energy supply and that it will be binding, but it will follow a discussion on what that means for each member state," he said.

German chancellor Angela Merkel had called on EU leaders to back binding targets of up 20 per cent of energy consumption from renewables such as wind, solar and hydro-electric power by 2020.

Germany as the head of the rotating EU presidency is expected to deliver a draft document today including the binding clause.

According to the Reuters news agency, which says it has seen a copy of the draft document, Germany has sought to get agreement on a compromise which will see "differentiated national overall targets" for renewables "with due regard to a fair and adequate allocation taking account of different national starting points".

The Czech Republic and Slovakia remain reportedly opposed to a binding target.

The EU meeting is also set to agree cuts to greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels.

French president Jacques Chirac on Thursday said nuclear power must play a part in the EU's energy mix.

He said he could accept binding renewables targets across the EU if it recognised nuclear energy as a renewable source.

Meanwhile, British prime minister Tony Blair has said the EU has a 'one-off opportunity' to reconnect with citizens through tackling climate change.