Press Release: Climate change: Results of EU High Level Mission to Australia

A European Union High Level Mission met the Australian Minister of Environment, Senator Robert Hill, on 6 July 2001, to prepare for the negotiations on climate change due to take place in Bonn on 16-27 July 2001. The EU Mission stressed the importance of Australia continuing its active involvement in the Kyoto process. Although the Australian Government is willing to negotiate in Bonn, important differences remain between the EU and Australia on the question of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. The EU reiterated its commitment to ratify the Kyoto Protocol by the year 2002, if necessary without the US, while Australia will not do so.