EU to keep "cost-effective" climate plan deadline

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders were set to reaffirm a December deadline for agreeing bold plans to fight climate change but vow to make them cost-effective in view of the financial crisis, a draft statement showed on Thursday.

"The European Council confirms its determination to honor the ambitious commitments it has made on climate and energy policy," said the draft circulated to leaders ahead of the final session of a two-day summit, and obtained by Reuters.

"In this connection, it reaffirms that its objective is to reach agreement in December, working closely with the European Parliament, on the (European) Commission's four legislative proposals," said the text, which could still be changed by leaders.

In deference to critics led by Poland and Italy, it called for intensive work in the next few weeks on "applying that package in a rigorously established cost-effective manner to all sectors of the European economy and all member states, having regard to each member state's specific situation."

(reporting by Ingrid Melander, writing by Paul Taylor)