On July 5, the European Parliament rejected a proposal to raise the CO2 emission targets EU-27 member states must reach by 2020. The proposal was for an increased 30 percent cut in CO2 emissions in relation to 1990 levels, instead of the current target of a 20 percent cut.
Major EU countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Germany, voted for the proposal and the EU climate commissioner expressed her approval; nevertheless, the motion was rejected with 347 against, 258 for, and 63 abstentions.