European Union leaders meeting in Brussels are believed to have agreed on measures aimed at tackling climate change.
The indication was given by the presidency of the EU, Slovenia, last night.
It is suggested that member states would agree a timetable to enact tougher restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions and that these targets would be binding.
However the strong ambitions could not hide preoccupations among the 27 member states for their own particular national interests.
In a last-minute change to draft conclusions of their two-day EU summit, the leaders included some wiggle room in the climate change goals, including a mention that the targets should be introduced so as to avoid excessive costs for member states.
The plan aims to meet the EU's goal to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels.
They have committed to go to 30% if other countries would match them.
To achieve that figure, EU states are obliged to make renewable energies, such as solar and wind power, the source of 20% of the total energy consumption across the bloc by 2020. The current level is just 6-7%.
They have also given a political commitment that biofuels, made from plants, should make up 10% of total vehicle fuel in Europe by 2020.
However, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa cast doubt on that initiative, telling a press conference that the biofuels target could be amended amid fears it will further hit soaring food prices as fuel crops such as colza take land from traditional crops.
