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Home News EU: Barroso challenges Sarkozy to ensure emissions targets adopted

EU: Barroso challenges Sarkozy to ensure emissions targets adopted

Published on 27/02/2008

   LONDON, February 27, 2008 - European Commission President Jose ManuelBarroso challenged French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country will holdthe rotating EU presidency from July, to ensure that targets to combat climatechange are adopted, in an interview published Wednesday.   Speaking to the Financial Times from Svalbard, Norway, Barroso said: "Ihave no doubts about the commitment of Mr Sarkozy. It will be hisresponsibility to get agreement among all member states: he will be chairman(of meetings where the targets are discussed)."   The targets call for the 27-nation bloc to cut carbon emissions by 20percent, improve energy efficiency by 20 percent, and generate 20 percent ofenergy from renewable sources, all by 2020.   "There are some negotiations going on but I am completely confident that atthe end we will get agreement," Barroso told the business daily.   "The EU leaders unanimously approved (the proposed targets) and it will berespected -- if not, it will be a blow to our credibility."