The European Commission will allow its newest members Bulgaria and Romania to increase greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 % by 2020 over 2005 levels while their economies catch up, EuroNews reported, citing EU sources.

The major energy and climate change plan will be unveiled on January 23 and will be followed by negotiations on individual targets.

The trading scheme is the EU's instrument to fight global warming and respect the Kyoto Protocol, setting limits on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that industry may emit.

In October 2007, Brussels cut on Bulgaria's greenhouse emissions for 2008-2012 by 37% and on Romania's by 20,7%.

Nine member states have sued the EU Commission regarding the allocated CO2 trading scheme, including Bulgaria, which claims that Brussels have not taken into account the decommissioning of unit 3 and 4 of Bulgaria's nuclear power plant Kozloduy, which will make CO2 producing thermal power plants work at full capacity.

National targets will be set according to GDP per capita - with richer countries like Ireland and Luxembourg expected to bear the brunt, EuroNews commented.

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