EU leaders agree eco targets

European leaders have reached an agreement on climate change which they have branded a "massive" step in the fight against global warming.

They have committed to cut Europe's greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.

And that target could be raised to 30 per cent if major polluters such as the US and China join the efforts.

But the 27 EU leaders could not agree over the role of nuclear power and sources of renewable energy.

Discussion on the balance between the two will now top the agenda.

"We would like to see a binding goal for renewable energies. Our effort is to reach 20 per cent generation from renewable energy sources as a European average," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after leading the first day of talks.

According to a draft agreement, the EU will aim to go even further in the future, with cuts of 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050.

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