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Greenpeace protesters breach EU summit security

10 December 2009, 21:51 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - Greenpeace activists breached EU security Thursday to tell European leaders to "wake up" and help save the planet from the increasing threat of global warming.

"Greenpeace calls on European heads of state to help secure the strongest possible agreement on climate change in Copenhagen," where UN talks are ongoing, one protester read from a statement, before being removed by security officers.

Around a dozen supporters of the environmental group were involved in the action which surprised several European leaders and officials waiting to enter a two-day summit and finding their access held up by Greenpeace cars and a van.

The protesters, apparently wearing fake access badges, unfurled banners reading "EU Save Copenhagen," during their brief intervention under the eyes of the world's press and some bemused security guards.

In a statement sent to media, Greenpeace called on the EU to unilaterally boost its pledge from emission reductions from 20 percent to 30 percent.

The 27 assembled heads of state and government were mulling such a move, but most European nations are unwilling to make the step without similar pledge from the rest of the industrialised world.

"An increase in Europe's ambition would inject momentum into the climate talks and could trigger real change in the US position... A step forward by the EU might well tip the balance and lead to a legally binding deal in time for Christmas," Greenpeace EU climate policy director, Joris den Blanken, said in the statement.

It was not the first time Greenpeace activists had interrupted a meeting at the EU council headquarters in Brussels.

In December 2007, the group erected a wall completely blocking the main entrance to the building and delaying a ministerial meeting on fishing quotas.


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