EU divided over carbon emissions targets

Taoiseach Enda Kenny warned of “difficult” climate change talks yesterday as EU leaders remained locked in talks last night on the union’s new climate change package.

Speaking on his way into yesterday's EU summit in Brussels, Mr Kenny said he would press leaders on the need to recognise agriculture in the calculation of emissions targets, though he acknowledged that progress had already been made.

Diplomatic sources said last night that “no objections” to Ireland’s proposal had been raised at official meetings just ahead of the summit.

France and Denmark are among the other EU countries that may benefit from the EU's likely move to include agriculture in the way emissions targets are calculated.

Speaking on his way into the meeting, Mr Kenny criticised the per-capita income method of emissions calculation which was made at a time when the State was in a very different position financially from its current position.

“In Ireland’s case we have a legacy here that is truly catastrophic, that in my view should never have been accepted in the way that it was,” he said.

Difficult position

“It means that if the language that is currently on the table were to be translated it would mean that whatever government was in office in 2020 would be in a very difficult position.

"I want to make it clear to the European Council that Ireland will be ambitious about our targets but we don't want to be in a position where completely unreachable targets are set for us, and that's an issue that I intend to argue very strongly because of Ireland's unique position because of our agri-sector at the meeting this evening."

Bilateral meetings took place between some of the key member states yesterday evening before leaders assembled for a working dinner, in a bid to reach agreement on the EU’s climate change package.

Divisions

Divisions remained yesterday between member states on the proposed package of targets for 2030 which will replace the current 2020 targets.

Eastern European countries, including Poland, favour less onerous targets than those proposed by the European Commission in January.

An overall emissions reduction target of 40 per cent, a 27 per cent target for renewable energy consumption and a 30 per cent target for energy efficiency were under discussion last night, though the energy efficiency target was expected to be reduced to 27 per cent.

Speaking on her way into the meeting, German chancellor Angela Merkel said she could not say if there would be an agreement. "I don't think the talks will be easy, as we also need to look at our international competitiveness."

Mr Kenny also acknowledged that the talks would be “problematic” for a number of countries.

“This is going to be a difficult meeting in respect of climate change,” the Taoiseach said.

Yesterday evening Spain and Portugal appeared to have made progress on their request that member states make 15 per cent of their generating capacity available to other countries. Both are keen to export more energy to France.