23 June 2010: The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, have sent a joint letter to the other leaders of the G20 outlining their thoughts on key agenda items of the G20 summit, to be held in Toronto, Canada, from 26-27 June 2010, including on climate change.
In the letter, which focuses on securing strong and sustainable growth, the two Presidents, inter alia: stress that securing strong and sustainable growth remains the overriding priority; call for completion of the reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a single and comprehensive package by November 2010; and highlight the EU’s determination to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) globally by 2015 and to achieve its development aid targets.
On climate change, the two Presidents stress the need to promote strong action by putting emphasis on green growth and working towards a global and comprehensive post-2012 legal agreement building on the Copenhagen Accord. They note that the EU is seeking a balanced set of concrete, action-oriented decisions at the upcoming 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Cancun, Mexico. The Presidents also underscore that the EU supports the process to rationalize inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, with the goal to improve energy efficiency, enhance energy security and contribute to the fight against climate change and fiscal consolidation. [EU Press Release] [The Letter]
