Reversing the vote of the ENVI Committee, the European Parliament has rejected the Eickhout report, which aimed to raise the threshold for reduction in CO2 emissions to 30% by 2020.

The Greens and other leftist groups voted against the report, after the European Parliament had approved amendments by Salvatore Tatarella, EPP Group Shadow Rapporteur. These amendments included an increase in the threshold reduction to 25%.

The result was viewed favourably by Salvatore Tatarella. "This is not the time to recommend a further increase in the threshold for reducing emissions," said Tatarella, "and the unreasonable inflexibility of the Greens and Socialists has come up against the vote of the plenary. I hope that today's vote can make those political groups that voted against take a more cautious and realistic approach."

For further information:
Salvatore TATARELLA MEP, Tel: +33-3-88175276
Elisabetta Montano, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-478933978

Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 264 Members.