Merkel says EU sticks to December climate deadline

She told reporters on leaving a two-day summit early that the leaders agreed the package must take account of each country's specific situation, which suited Germany as a major industrial power.
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"The discussion was about how we should of course implement the climate protection goals and to find solutions by the end of the year, that is to say by the summit," she said, adding: "Country-specific conditions must be taken into account, that is naturally in Germany's interest."
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EU leaders were putting finishing touches to a final statement that pledged intensive work in the coming weeks to ensure the measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy sources are rigorously cost-efficient in view of the current financial crisis.