EU leaders focus on climate deal

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Leaders of the European Union are said to be close to a compromise agreement on how to achieve ambitious targets to fight global warming, reports BBC..
They are attempting to agree a mechanism whereby the EU could cut carbon emissions by 20pc by 2020. They have also agreed in principle a 200bn-euro economic stimulus package.
Earlier, EU members reportedly agreed a series of concessions to the Irish Republic enabling it to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon reform treaty.
Dublin's rejection of the treaty in June stalled the project, which is aimed at simplifying decision-making in the 27-member bloc.
At the end of a first day of talks at the summit in Brussels, EU leaders moved closer towards agreement on the so-called "20-20-20" package to tackle climate change after concessions were made to limit its impact on struggling industries.
The measures, which also require approval by the European Parliament to become law, would commit the EU to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, and to raising renewable sources to 20% of total energy use.
The talks are going on concurrently with a UN climate conference in Poznan, Poland, where former US presidential candidate John Kerry said the United States was set to lead the world towards a new climate deal.
Mr Kerry, who is representing President-elect Barack Obama, said the aim of agreeing a deal by next year must remain on track.
The BBC's Jonny Dymond, in Brussels, says an EU deal seems to be coming, but there were some very long faces as the summit broke up on Thursday night.
There is concern in some quarters that the compromise proposed has led to the overall aim of the package being undermined.
Speaking off the record, a UK source said they were very unhappy with the current proposals, and too much had been given away - particularly to German industry.
BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin, who is at the Poznan talks, said that from the point of view of UN climate delegates, the crucial message from Brussels was for the EU to stick to its headline 20pc commitment.
But the concessions made to industry will damage Europe's image among developing countries - and will have an impact on a future global climate deal, he said.
Another contentious area is the EU's plan to allow countries to buy cheap carbon credits from poor nations rather than cutting emissions at home.
The group said this would undermine Europe's drive towards a low-carbon economy.
A new formal proposal was to be issued by the French presidency before the meeting broke for the night. Leaders will then return with their reaction in the morning.
At the start of the discussions on Thursday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he hoped his fellow leaders would be able to unite on a climate package.