EU leaders back energy targets

EU LEADERS yesterday backed ambitious targets to cut energy use and fight climate change but stressed that the package must not involve “excessive costs” amid an economic downturn.

In a draft agreement, the 27 European heads of state and government pledged to finalise the global warming action plan so that it can come into effect in early 2009. However the strong ambitions could not hide preoccupations among many of the member states for their own particular national interests.

A last-minute change to the draft increased room for manoeuvre in the climate change goals, including a mention that the targets should be introduced so as to “avoid excessive costs for member states”.