EU disagrees on renewable energy

Some European countries want to use renewable energy voluntarily

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she hoped the agreement would be reached and encouraged the parties to be patient. But there are also objections from some countries to the proposed increase in renewable energy use by 20% by 2020.

On Thursday, European Union leaders agreed to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with levels in the 1990s. The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says Europe has decided to use energy. Clean quality, but difficult details still have to continue to discuss.

There is still a key point that the goal of using renewable energy for the next 13 years is mandatory or voluntary, the reporter said. Some poorer European countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, argue that they currently have a better option, while France requires the use of nuclear energy.

Big step

After talks on Thursday, German Chancellor Merkel, who is rotating the presidency of Europe, also said progress has been made.

She said, 'The agreed things are a big step ahead of the existing views.' She also hopes that disagreements over the use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower will be resolved.

She said, 'We talked about specific obligations - increasing energy efficiency, biofuels, increasing renewable volumes. More debate is needed on all three areas. '

Mr. Chirac wants the use of atomic energy to be considered

French President Jacques Chirac demanded that nuclear energy also be considered as part of the plan.

Merkel said atomic energy is not a form of renewable energy, but also agrees that the issue will be considered as part of the overall carbon reduction plan.

The poorer Eastern European countries, dependent on heavy industry and high carbon coal consumption, said they would have a hard time investing in solar and wind technology to meet them. target.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said European credibility depends on whether words must go hand in hand with the fight against climate change.

There are also those who say that the European Community can increase emissions by up to 30% if major polluters like the US, China and India join the plan.