Eu Reaches Agreement On Climate Aid

European Union leaders overcame differences on funding for climatechange, and moved forward on new leadership posts for the 27-memberblock as they wrapped up a two-day summit.

European Union leaders meetingin Brussels hailed an agreement on climate change, reached after weeksof wrangling over how much members should contribute to developingcountries to adapt to global warming.

Jose Manuel Barroso gestures during a media conference at the end of an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, 30 Oct 2009European Commission PresidentJose Manuel Barroso called the deal an important breakthrough at ajoint press conference with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden,which currently holds the rotating European Union presidency.

"Wecan now look the rest of the world in the eyes and say we Europeans, wehave done our job," he said. "We are ready for Copenhagen. We haveagreed on a negotiating mandate, we have a clear endorsement on some ofthe Commission's proposals, notably on financing. I thinkthis is essential.

Under the deal, the 27-member bloc wouldcontribute to an overall annual aid fund of $74 billion for poorernations. But they didn't specify how much Europe would contributecompared with other nations. Mr. Barroso and Mr. Reinfeldt will bediscussing climate change next week with U.S. President Barack Obama inWashington.

The Europeans also began discussing the broadoutlines of future leadership posts for the European Union, once areforming charter known as the Lisbon Treaty is fully ratified. Membershope that will happen before the year's end. The charter sets up newoffices, including the powerful post of president of the European Union.

And Mr. Barroso says they agreed to keep in place stimulus measures to fight the economic crisis.

"Wemust maintain efforts until the moment we finally overcome the crisis,"he said. "At the same time, we must prepare exit strategies in acoordinated way."

The heads of state are expected to holdanother summit next month to discuss candidates for the new EUpresidency job. Possible contenders include former prime minister TonyBlair of Britain and current prime minister Jean-Claude Junker ofLuxembourg.