EU emissions target to be binding, 1990 base year

BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (Reuters) European Union environment ministers intend to set a legally binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said today.

He told a news conference that the 27 ministers had agreed in principle that the proposed unilateral cut in EU emissions of 20 percent by 2020, and the objective of 30 per cent if other industrialised countries join in, would be binding.

He said the goals would be based on 1990 as the reference year, but the EU would look in its internal discussions at using other base years for some new east European member states' emissions cuts.

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