European Union leaders have reached an agreement on a proposal to present at the global climate talks in Copenhagen in December. Developing countries will require 100 billion euros per year by 2020 to combat climate change, with 22-50 billion euros coming from the public funds of wealthy nations. The EU will contribute a portion of this amount, with expectations that it will be between 20 and 30 percent. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown believes this agreement will be a significant step towards reaching a deal in Copenhagen. Eastern European nations confirmed that the summit had resolved a disagreement regarding the division of the EU's financial responsibilities in a manner that would not negatively impact their economies during their recovery from crisis. The Polish Minister for Europe, Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, expressed satisfaction, stating, "We view this as a victory for Poland. We aim for rapid progress and do not wish to be seen as a relic of Eastern European folklore." Although leaders did not establish a specific method for dividing the bill, they delegated this task to a newly formed working group. "I would have preferred for this burden-sharing mechanism to be prepared already, but it proved to be too challenging," stated Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The two-day summit secured a detailed negotiating mandate for the Copenhagen talks, which aim to find a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations program to combat climate change that will expire in 2012. The success of these talks will likely depend on financial resources. Developing nations are adamant that they will not commit to addressing climate change without sufficient funds from wealthier countries, which have contributed significantly to environmental damage through their reliance on oil and coal for industry over the years. Such funding could help developing countries adapt their agriculture practices or access water sources in areas affected by drought. However, European leaders have decided to postpone previous plans to provide "fast start" financing for developing nations in the three years leading up to a new climate agreement. Oxfam, an anti-poverty organization, criticized Europe's proposal, stating that it was insufficient and lacked assurances that the funds would not be taken from existing aid commitments. Oxfam's Elise Ford warned that if wealthy countries divert money from aid budgets to pay for climate debt, it would hinder the fight against poverty. The opposition from east European countries weakened after Sweden, who chaired the talks, addressed the divisive issue of "hot air" - the 17 billion euros worth of carbon permits held by eastern Europe. These countries, along with Russia and Ukraine, have spare permits for approximately 9 billion tonnes of carbon emissions that were leftover from their economic collapse after the end of communist rule. The additional permits, referred to as AAUs, can be traded to major polluting countries like Japan for approximately 10 euros per ton. Eastern European nations are in favor of continuing to sell AAUs in the new agreement that will replace Kyoto. However, some countries like Germany argue that this practice undermines the agreement's integrity and are pushing to eliminate them as they reduce the necessity for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sweden secured support from eastern Europe for the overall agreement by agreeing to postpone any significant actions regarding AAUs, according to an EU diplomat. The agreement also includes commitments to reducing domestic emissions, with a promise to enhance cuts to 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 if other countries follow suit.