PARIS (Reuters) - An agreement on climate change measures is still achievable at this week's European Union summit despite the reservations of several EU countries, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Wednesday.
"Certain member states continue to express very strong reservations on the central elements of a compromise," Fillon said in a debate in the French parliament. "But I still think a success is possible."
The 27-member bloc is aiming for a broad agreement on measures that would allow it to join U.S. President-elect Barack Obama in a strong partnership to combat climate change.
But several countries have raised objections, from Germany, which is wary that its heavy industry could suffer, to Poland which says it needs subsidies to adapt its power industry, which is heavily dependent on coal.
Italy became the latest to express reservations with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi threatening to veto any agreement that might hurt Italian interests excessively.
"The main thing is that all industries and countries have to contribute equitably to cutting CO2 emissions," Fillon said.
"We expect all European countries, and first among them Germany to respect the objectives announced in 2007," he said, referring to the EU's target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.
(Writing by James Mackenzie; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
