The news from the European Environment Agency (EEA) that greenhouse gas emissions fell by just 0.5 per cent over the year - largely as a result of an economic slowdown and warmer weather - has notched up the pressure to increase the severity of emissions legislation.

The Agency has warned that the European Union member states must make greater efforts if they are to meet targets set by the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement on tackling climate change.

In the 'Annual European Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2002 And Inventory Report 2004', the EEA pointed to a 1.2 per cent increase in gas emissions in the transport sector over the 2001/02 period across the then 15-nation bloc.

The Kyoto Protocol requires industrialized countries to trim their emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and five other greenhouse gases back by 5.2 per cent between 1990 and 2008-2012.

The 15 EU nations agreed separately to an eight per cent reduction in emissions, but the EEA stated that the results for 2001/02 "leave the EU with a long way to go to meet its commitment".

The Copenhagen-based agency said only four EU countries were on track to meet their national targets under the Kyoto Protocol - Britain, France, Germany and Sweden.

The 10 new EU member states are not bound by the EU emissions reduction targets.