European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso refused Wednesday to compromise on a plan for the 27-nation to cut emissions of the gases responsible for global warming.
"Do not expect us to compromise on European interests," he told members of the European Parliament. "Both our international credibility and credibility before European Union citizens depend on fulfillment of the targets."
Several nations have complained about measures and targets the E.U.'s executive body is due to adopt and make public next week in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels.
"Transforming to a low carbon community is not an easy task, but this is the moment to be serious and clear with our commitment," Barroso told the deputies. "It is essential to meet the three central challenges that the European Union faces in energy: competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply.
"The commission is well aware of these realities, as our proposals will show," he said.