I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 32 together.
The 7th Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention – COP7 – was successful in reaching agreement to transpose the political outcome of COP6 bis in Bonn into legal decision texts forming the international rules to govern implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. The agreement reached includes provision for a strong compliance system, operational rules for the Protocol's flexible mechanisms, arrangements for limited access to additional links and additional funding to support developing countries in adapting to climate change.
Parties are now in a position to proceed with ratification of the Protocol and the EU and member states, in their continued leadership of international climate negotiations, are making the preparations necessary to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible. It is our expectation that this will be done in sufficient time to allow for its entry into force by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002. The Protocol requires sufficient developed country parties, representing at least 55% of 1990 emissions of CO2 from this category of country, to ratify before it may enter into force. The EU will maintain its efforts to ensure the necessary parties ratify the Protocol so that it may come into legal operation.