BRUSSELS — France wants leaders to cast the deciding vote on the European Union’s next climate milestone, a demand that threatens to derail efforts to reach a speedy deal.
The EU’s 27 environment ministers are currently scheduled to meet on Sept. 18 for a vote on the bloc’s 2040 emissions-cutting target, a date chosen to ensure that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen doesn’t show up empty-handed at the United Nations General Assembly’s climate summit the following week.
But the French government is now pushing for the decision to be taken at the European Council rather than ministerial level, two EU diplomats told POLITICO. They were granted anonymity to disclose details of a closed-door meeting.
Getting national leaders involved is a risky move, however.
