The European Union said Monday that it would not unilaterally commit to a 30 percent reduction in its greenhouse emissions by 2020 compared with 1990, an idea it had floated as a possibility if other nations commit to deep cuts.

"It is hard to find any other nation that has such an ambitious target," EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard told reporters at a briefing. "We have said we are willing to add to that target if others move."

The European Commission is set to publish a new document on which climate change actions and targets it will take on, in spring, she said.

Hedegaard also said that the EU wants to delay a deal to use carbon markets to reward countries which protect their tropical forests, beyond UN. climate talks in Cancun.

"The risk is if you do it in the wrong way you risk undermining the whole carbon market," Hedegaard said.

While talking about a UN draft text published this weekend outlining possible goals for the Cancun conference, Hedegaard said: "The texts are still much too long, There are much too many options. They are still too complicated."

Countries must "step up" the pace of negotiations and be willing to compromise on key sticking points, she said. "We hope that all nations will bring a spirit of compromise to talks."

Despite conflicts, Hedegaard said she hopes that progress can be made on a number of issues including monitoring, reporting and verification.

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