EU energy ministers weaken curbs on coal subsidies

European energy ministers have weakened the European Commission’s proposal to curb subsidies for carbon intensive power generation, a move that is being seen as contradictory to the EU’s climate targets.

A deal reached late Monday between energy ministers on the Electricity Market Regulation has given member states leeway to subsidise heavily polluting coal-fired power plants, despite strong opposition by countries including France, Netherlands, Sweden and Luxembourg.