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Environment ministers set to meet on Thursday, September 18, 2025, in Brussels are wrangling over national emissions targets for 2035 which must be fixed at EU level before the COP30 climate summit in Brazil later this year, according to an internal briefing note seen by Euronews.
A controversial 2040 EU climate emissions target decision which the Danish EU presidency had originally intended to be taken on Thursday has already been dropped to a discussion point since countries claim they need more time to mull the issue, according to EU officials.
But the note said that countries are now dividing into more or less ambitious camps in relation to a decision on national targets for 2035, so-called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which will be discussed at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) next week, where world leaders will take stock of climate efforts ahead of COP30.
“Less climate ambitious” EU countries want to have reductions “closer to 66% of greenhouse gas emissions” and for this target to run on a linear trajectory between 2030 to 2050, according to the note.
For those EU countries regarded as “more ambitious”, the preference is to have an “indicative statement” before the UNGA, kicking off on September 23, with a clear ambitious 2035 target “between 66% and 72,5%”, running from the 2030 target and the proposed 90% target for 2040.
EU’s efforts under Paris Agreement
Under the Paris Agreement, countries submit or update their NDCs every five years. The EU’s NDC needs to be updated to include its 2035 target and reflect intermediate targets, such as for 2040, to be presented at COP30, in November.
While the EU NDC is formally adopted by EU countries, the EU climate target for 2040 will be adopted as an amendment to the European Climate Law, adopted in 2021. However, a number of countries is eager to adopt both targets at the same time, arguing it would strengthen the EU’s ability to push for greater ambition globally at COP30.
“It is unlikely a decision on a general approach [Council’s position] can be taken only at coreper [permanent country’s representatives] level after the European Council discussion in October, hence an extraordinary environment council may be called before COP30 to adopt one,” the note added.
While member states continue to wrangle over the bloc’s green efforts in the global stage, the Danish Presidency rejects an empty-handed situation upon arrival at the UNGA and is working on two different options to bridge the gap: the first where the NDCs would be in a lower range, and the second where the NDCs would be split from the 2040 climate target.
“We’re seeking guidance from the member states for a policy debate and not a general approach (Council’s position),” an EU diplomat told Euronews, adding the EU Presidency is trying to find a way that would still keep the European Climate Law and the NDC linked.
An advocate for linking the 2035 and 2040 targets, Denmark tried to push for a vote last week at ministerial level, but Germany and Italy backed France in pushing the decision to the European Council in October, when heads of State will meet. This move was backed by countries including Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
But countries like Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia want to discuss the matter with Heads of State in October hoping to revisit the 90% target proposed by the EU executive, according to the letter, while France, Germany and Italy are seeking a discussion on the “framework conditions” enabling the proposal to move forward.
