The European Union's executive leader urged the United States to increase their efforts towards a global climate change agreement during an upcoming meeting of major industrialized countries in Japan. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso emphasized the importance of the U.S. showing more ambition in addressing emissions of greenhouse gases to combat rising global temperatures. While there has been some progress in aligning views between Brussels and Washington on the issue, significant differences remain on how to approach the issue. Without a more proactive stance from U.S. President George W. Bush, little progress is expected until late next year when countries will convene to negotiate a new U.N. climate change agreement. The next round of U.N. climate talks is scheduled for December in Poland, but the United States will be in transition due to the inauguration of its next president in January. Barroso stated that the world has higher expectations for a powerful economy like the United States. He believes that the U.S. should aim for a more ambitious outcome at the upcoming G8 summit than the one reached last year. While the leaders agreed to consider halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the previous summit, the EU is now pushing for a concrete target and a commitment to reducing emissions by 2020. However, EU officials acknowledge that the Bush administration is unlikely to support a short-term goal. Barroso emphasized that a 2050 target would lack credibility without a more immediate goal as well. He mentioned that he anticipated the upcoming U.S. president to further support the change in Washington's stance towards measures already approved by the EU. The EU, consisting of 27 nations, has agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 and is currently developing regulations on emissions from industries, vehicles, aircraft, and other laws to achieve that goal. The United States has stated its dedication to combating climate change but is unwilling to agree to mandatory emissions reductions until major developing countries like China and India also commit to enforceable limits.