The President of the European Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, yesterday rejected "all calls" to abandon the Kyoto Protocol, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions. His declaration was forced by an interview given by Commission vice-president Ms Loyola de Palacio in which she suggested that the EU should find alternatives to Kyoto for fear of damaging the competitiveness of European industry.
"We cannot and we will not back down in the fight against human-induced climate change," Mr Prodi said in an attempt to re-establish the Commission's position.
The comments from his energy commissioner directly contradicted the stance long held by the Commission and the majority of EU states, but they reflect growing concern in Ms de Palacio's home country about how Spanish industry may be affected.
EU states have until the end of March to submit their national plans for allocating licences for emissions of carbon dioxide.
The Republic published its plans this week. Although Kyoto will not enter into force unless and until Russia ratifies the protocol, the European Environment Commissioner, Mrs Margot Wallstrom, maintains that the EU should press ahead with emissions trading on the terms laid down at Kyoto.
