Today EU’s 27 prime
ministers and head of parliaments came to an agreement regarding
EU’s new comprehensive climate and energy package. The Danish
minster of Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard says:
“When 27 countries
with completely different economic preconditions can come to an
agreement on legislation with such a huge impact – in a time of
financial crisis – it is a clear sign that Europe acknowledges its
leadership in climate affairs. When the commission presented the
highly ambitious plan in January it was by no means given that EU
could come to an agreement.”
The minister of Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard wanted an even
more ambitious package, but points out that conditions for
negotiating an ambitious climate policy have been the worst
possible.
Overall the agreement will cause the EU to reduce CO2 emissions
with 20 percent by 2020 and expand sustainable energy sources to 20
percent by 2020.