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Denmark, where the UN climate change talks are being held in December, is also likely to be forced to buy carbon credits if it is to meet the reduction targets set by the Kyoto Protocol.

But officials said that the EU as a whole is on target to meet or exceed the Kyoto goals of cutting greenhouse gases by 8 percent compared to 1990 levels by the year 2012.

That is largely because of a strong showing by the industrial heavyweights Germany, Britain and France. Sweden and Greece have also undercut their individual targets.

Positive signal for Copenhagen

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said that this shows that Europe "can be relied on to deliver" the reductions promised in 2002. He also described the news as "a very important and timely signal" for next month's summit in Copenhagen.

According to the European Commission's annual report for 2007, the most recent year for which figures exist, Italy produced 550 million tons of carbon dioxide, almost seven percent more than in 1990.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, Italy was meant to reduce its emissions to 482 million tons by 2012, 6.5 percent below the 1990 figure. This means it will have to cut emisisons by over 10 percent in the next three years if it is to meet its commitments.

Under the Kyoto agreement, Spain was allowed to boost its output of greenhouse gases by 15 percent - to take into account its relatively underdeveloped economic situation in the 1990s.

But the country's subsequent economic boom led to a staggering 52.6 percent explosion in emissions. This leaves Spain with the challenge of slashing emissions by a quarter over the next three years.

Denmark has managed to cut output by four percent, but it is still way off its 21 percent Kyoto target.

EU wants to see others step up to the plate

Talks are currently underway for a new global accord on how to tackle carbon emissions from 2013. They are due to culminate at a worldwide conference in Copenhagen from December 7-18.

The 27 EU members states have already vowed to slash emissions by 20 percent by 2020, and say they will increase that to 30 percent, if other countries commit to reductions.

In Copenhagen, the EU wants to see the US, China and other nations pledging ambitious CO2 cuts that could curb global warming.

But hopes for a successor treaty to Kyoto being produced in December faded last week when delegates at U.N. climate talks in Barcelona said a deal may need an extra year or more, beyond the original December deadline.

Two major problems include agreeing on emission cut commitments, and reaching a consensus on a financial package to help developing countries tackle climate change.

jg/dpa/Reuters/AP

Editor: Kate Bowen