Blair backs EU renewable energy targets - Financial Times

Blair backs EU renewable energy targets

By George Parker and Sarah Laitner in Brussels and Fiona Harvey in London

Published: February 28 2007 22:04 | Last updated: February 28 2007 22:04

Tony Blair will next week complete a British U-turn over green energy and support
an ambitious 20 per cent mandatory target for renewable power as a share of
European generation capacity.

The British prime minister has overruled his industry minister and will argue at an
EU summit that Europe needs binding targets for renewables to show it is serious
in fighting climate change.

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The news is a victory for Angela Merkel, German chancellor and host of the Brussels
summit, who believes Europe’s commitment to tackling global warming would be
hollow if member states pursued a voluntary approach.

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A British government spokesman said Mr Blair wanted to back Ms Merkel and Mr
Barroso: “We will therefore support the proposal for a binding EU-wide 20 per
cent target for renewables.”

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