The European Union (EU) strongly favored targets that would be internationally legally binding to be set at the Paris climate talks, said Miguel Arias Canete, EU Commissioner responsible for climate action and energy on Thursday.

"It is no secret that, like the United States, a number of countries are reluctant to agree to some forms of the binding deal," said the Commissioner in a press conference here ahead of the United Nations climate change conference scheduled for later this year in Paris.

The Commissioner also emphasized the elements that would help the Paris climate talks succeed: a high level of ambition, a process for raising ambition at later date, a long-term goal, transparency and accountability rules, and legal certainty.

"The Paris conference is an historic milestone: a unique opportunity to accelerate the shift to a low-carbon, climate-resilient global economy," said the Commissioner.

"But the window of opportunity to meet our target of keeping the global temperature rise below two degrees is closing fast," warned the Commissioner. Endit