European states are gearing up for a rearguard action against Brussels' green energy plan, just months after many of them signed up to placing the European Union at the forefront of the fight against climate change.

Just days before the European Commission is to unveil its detailed country-by-country targets for cutting emissions, leaders are already privately battling to water down proposals they fear will damage their economies. After the targets were agreed, it was left to Brussels to translate them into detailed policy.

The French government is currently in talks with German counterparts about building a common front against the proposals, much as the two joined forces to undermine Brussels' energy package last year.