Another year and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers rotates, with Spain taking the role in the first half of 2010. The appointment of Herman von Rompuy as president of the Council does not change the practice of each country in turn setting the agenda – much like the way the Queen reads a speech at the opening of UK Parliament while the Government sets the policies.

Speaking at the close of an informal Council of Environment Ministers in Seville on 16 January, the Spanish state secretary for climate change, Teresa Ribera, said that the ministers had expressed a shared will to construct a “rapid and efficient” programme against climate change.

The state secretary insisted on the “comparability of efforts” in the reduction of emissions, pointing out that the figures of 20% and 30% reductions discussed on different occasions are included among the EU’s arguments in this field. The Union seeks an “integrative effort” according to the state secretary. So, on Monday 18 in Brussels, the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER), composed of senior civil servants from member states, was due to discuss whether the EU would commit to cut its own emissions by 30% or stick with the 20% figure already agreed. Such a change would then have to be endorsed by a meeting of ministers – as well as the European Commission and Parliament – before it become official.

In a joint press conference offered at the end of the meeting with the European commissioner Stavros Dimas and the chair of the Energy Committee of the European Parliament Jo Leinen, Ms Ribera said the informal meeting had been productive and that the EU ministers had a common view on how best to consolidate cooperation in environmental matters.

The state secretary also stated that: “an action strategy must be put in place to implement the conclusions of the Copenhagen Agreement”. She added that: “we must now work to make the Copenhagen Agreement a reality” with a view to the next summit in Mexico.