Pressure on member states of the European Union to adopt a unified position on climate change ahead of the Copenhagen talks intensified today(20 October) after a meeting of finance ministers ended without a firm decision on the key issue of climate finance.

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) met in Luxembourg to discuss how much the EU should contribute to help finance measures that developing countries must undertake to adapt to, and mitigate against the effects of global warming.

After the meeting Anders Borg, the Swedish finance minister who chaired the debate, said that ECOFIN had made 'some progress' in understanding the positions held by different member states.

But he added: 'We have not been able to reach a conclusion. At the end of the day, the issue will have to be dealt with at the European Council at the end of the month.'

He said the failure to reach an agreement was a 'disappointment' but stressed that it meant the issue would now be dealt withby  the 27 EU heads of state who meet in 29 and 30 October.

'There are several difficult issues that will have to be dealt with,' he said. 'Given that Europe is taking the leadership on the climate issue, it is very important that we now make further progress in the coming days on this issue.'

Joachin Almunia, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, added: 'It is not a good outcome but it does not mean that Europe will not continue to be in the driving seat to find an agreement at Copenhagen.'

'I hope that the European Council will adopt a clear position, showing that Europe is looking for an ambitious agreement at Copenhagen,' he said, adding that the 'components of an agreement' were on the table.

Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had earlier said the EU should commit €10bn (£9.1bn) a year in direct funding. The EU has identified an international funding requirement of €100bn per year (£94bn).

The issue will also be discussed at a meeting of EU environment ministers tomorrow (21 October). However that meeting is likely to focus on a number of outstanding issues, including the scale of the 2050 emission reduction objective for the EU; targets for reducing emissions from international aviation and maritime transport, accounting rules for changes in emissions due to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF); and how to tackle a potential surplus of national emission allowances (so-called AAUs) from the Kyoto Protocol’s 2008-2012 commitment period.

The Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, who will chair the Environment Council, said the meeting would help set the mandate for the EU ahead of Copenhagen.

'This is the occasion where the EU will form its main positions as we are preparing in the run-up to Copenhagen and for the last weeks of climate change negotiations,' he said.

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