Chris Davies MEP (North West of England) has welcomed today's decision by the European Commission to change the requirements for the EU to increase its 2020 carbon emissions reduction goals from 20 to 30%.

The Commission's new document International climate policy post-Copenhagen has replaced the EU's commitment to cut emissions by 30% in the event of an international agreement being reached, and instead said that this should happen "if the conditions are right".

Replying to a question from Chris Davies, European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard confirmed that this is a substantive change on the part of the Commission.

Davies said:

"The failure at Copenhagen to secure an international agreement meant that the EU's requirement for revising its target could not be met

"The Commission has today changed the rules and they are right to do so for two reasons.

"First, we are never going to develop a green economy with new jobs unless we take action now: and if we don't, we will only slip further behind China in that race.

"Second, due to the recession, a 30% cut in carbon emissions now costs the same as a 20% cut before the downturn.

"The Commission's change of position is therefore very welcome"