The European Union on Monday called on parties to commit to new period of the Kyoto Protocol, the only binding international treaty that commits most of the world's developed countries to making emission cuts.

"We will do whatever we can to ensure we build on the things we have, rather than spending years trying to construct the same thing," said EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard told reporters at a briefing.

Japan, Russia and Canada are opposed to committing to a new period of the Protocol, while Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia have said they will not sign any other accords unless developed nations sign on for a new period.

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Japan in 1992 by major emitting countries, which committed themselves to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent from their 1990 baseline levels by 2012. However, the U.S. Congress has refused to ratify the Protocol.

Hedegaard said the EU is seeking greater flexibility from all nations involved in the negotiation process.

"The agreements made in Copenhagen bring us only 60 percent of the way to what is needed, according to the United National Environment Program," Hedegaard said. "We hope that all nations will bring a spirit of compromise to talks."

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