On 24 October 2025 in Brussels, leaders of the 27 EU Member States met to discuss ambitions for climate targets — especially as the important COP30 summit in Brazil (11-22 November 2025) approaches. The aim is to agree on an emissions target for 2040, which should lead to an approximately 90 percent reduction in emissions compared to 1990 levels. However, no final decision was made — the leaders mainly set framework conditionsfor which they are willing to agree to a specific goal.

Key requirements and conditions

1. Flexibility and revision of goals
   Leaders insist that if a target is agreed, there must be a mechanism revisions – i.e. the possibility of possibly adjusting the goal later if the situation changes (e.g. due to the economic situation, technology, international developments).
   Representatives of countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic described the original proposed numbers as "unfeasible".
2. Involving carbon credits
   One condition is that an “appropriate level” of carbon credits can count towards the target. Leaders called on the Commission to include a limit and conditions for the counting of credits in its proposal.
   Initially, there was talk of a credit limit of 3 % of emissions of the national target, but this number did not convince the "harder" partners.
3. Protection of key industrial sectors
   EU leaders said that the position of the EU must be taken into account when adopting the target automotive sector, heavy industry and energy — which face strong competition (e.g. from China) and at the same time high investment costs for decarbonization.
   Carmakers in the EU in particular are switching to electric vehicles, which is putting pressure on manufacturers.
4. Pace and Verifiability for 2035
   The Commission has proposed that the 2040 target should be a companion step to the net-zero target in 2050. Leaders are demanding that a 2035 target (e.g. a ban on new combustion engines) be agreed or, on the other hand, a clear timetable.

Context and challenges

• The EU has already achieved approximately 37 % reduction in emissions compared to 1990.
• However, rising inflationary pressures, rising energy costs, competition from outside the EU, and political shifts towards populism are putting ambitious goals under pressure.
• According to analysts, this summit and the preparation of the goal "a major milestone" — If the EU does not start setting a clearer framework, it may lose its leadership position in climate policy.
• Experts warn: "If the emphasis on flexibility and simplification becomes a pretext for weakening ambition or postponing implementation, there may be a loss of confidence."

What can we expect next?

• Intensive negotiations between EU heads of state and government will continue in the coming days and weeks.
• The Commission's proposal will include a numerical target (e.g. -90 % in 2040) and complementary mechanisms: crediting, revision, economic protection.
• The agreement would be followed by a legislative process: the Council and the European Parliament would approve a new EU climate framework, including new legislation on energy, transport, industry and the exclusion of fossil fuels.

Significance for Slovakia and the region

For the Slovak economy, which is heavily dependent on automotive exports, mining and processing of raw materials, the EU requirements will represent both a challenge and an opportunityOn the one hand, companies will have to step up decarbonisation, investing in clean technologies. On the other hand, the EU wants to be a leader in "green technologies", which opens up the market for innovation and new industries.

The EU leaders’ meeting in October 2025 showed that while the ambition is there (–90 % in 2040), the adoption of a concrete framework will depend on trade-offs — flexibility, revision, economic protection and the inclusion of carbon credits. Further steps in the coming weeks will determine whether the EU remains a global leader in climate action or finds itself in the role of a catch-up player. CO2AI