EU Commission President Barroso meets Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change

Speaking in advance of the meeting, President Barroso said, ""The EU remains firmly committed to, and will meet, its Kyoto targets. But we now need to look beyond 2012. The European Union has already put its cards on the table. Our targets are known, our commitments are clear. I am determined that the EU will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. The Commission is currently working on the specific proposals which will enable the EU to meet these targets. We are ready to go further, to a 30% reduction, if there is a fair and effective global agreement for the post 2012 period. Today's meeting gives me a chance to discuss with leading experts what we are planning to do to meet our internal targets as well as discussing our strategy ahead of the Bali meeting. ".

The High Level Group will meet at the Conference entitled "The Global Challenge of Energy and Climate Change: The EU Vision for a Sustainable Future after 2012" at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon. The Conference will be open to academics, high level public administration, and specialized media.

Background

In March 2007, the Commission's President, José Manuel Durão Barroso, invited high level and world renowned experts, drawn from a range of different countries and disciplines, to be part of an Advisory Group for Energy and Climate Change to provide him with independent advice. The group has met twice, in March in Brussels and in June in Berlin.

The Spring European Council unanimously approved a European integrated strategy for energy and climate change. The Commission has already tabled a number of legislative proposals on 19 September to create a genuine internal market for energy. The next round of legislative proposals will be presented in January. The Commission welcomes the UN High Level Event in New York as an important step towards an ambitious result being achieved at the UN Ministerial in Bali on 3 December.


Learn more about the Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change

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