EU says more needs to be done to improve US climate change bill

EU leaders chide US on climate bill

BRUSSELS — The European Union says the United States has to make deeper cuts in emissions as part of legislation currently going through the U.S. Congress.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt says while the 27-nation bloc welcomes the draft U.S. bill on cuts, “it needs … more done to reach the levels we have in Europe.”

Reinfeldt chaired EU government leaders talks here Thursday.

The EU is urging other rich countries to match its pledge to cut emissions by 20 percent by 2020. In a joint statement they are calling on the U.S. and others to “urgently make ambitious commitments” to deeper cuts.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BRUSSELS (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy says that EU leaders have agreed to impose a cap on bankers’ pay.

He told reporters that all 27 EU nations are in “total unity” that the world cannot repeat the “scandal” of bonuses for executives and traders that encouraged banks to take huge risks.

EU leaders are meeting to decide what they will push for at talks between rich and developing nations at the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sept. 24-25.

Sarkozy has threatened to walk out of the meeting if the United States and others won’t strike a deal to curb banking bonuses.