10 November 2010
EU Highlights Environmental Issues Before G20 Leaders Summit
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In a joint letter to the G20 Leaders, the European Council President and European Commission President presented the EU views on the key issues on the agenda of the G20 Leaders Summit, including defining a realistic and balanced position ahead of the Cancun Climate Change Conference and advancing work on energy-related issues.

5 November 2010: In a joint letter to the G20 Leaders, Herman Van Rompuy, European Council President, and Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, presented the views of the EU on key issues on the agenda of the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit, including full support for G20 work on development as an important contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and addressing environmental issues.

In the letter, the EU expresses support for: the G20 multi-year action plan as a tool to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and resilience in developing countries; the adoption and implementation of a set of actions to improve access to financial services for the poor and small and medium enterprises; and G20 work on energy-related issues, by rationalizing and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies in the medium term, supporting efforts to reduce fossil fuel price volatility and sharing best practices to protect the marine environment from accidents related to offshore exploration and development, as well as transportation.

The EU also stresses that the G20 Leaders Summit will be an opportunity to create political momentum for a successful Cancun Climate Change Conference in late 2010, noting that the G20 needs to define a balanced and realistic position to drive forward towards a low-carbon global economy. The G20 Summit will take place from 11-12 November 2010 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. [The Letter]

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