BRUSSELS: EU leaders say they have agreed to commit euro2.4 billion ($3.6 billion) a year until 2012 to help poorer countries combat global warming.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the offer "puts Europe in a leadership role in Copenhagen."

All 27 members of the European Union agreed on the figure after two days of difficult talks at a summit in Brussels.

Sarkozy also said Friday the leaders agreed to reduce their emissions by 30 percent of 1990 levels by 2020. In the past EU leaders have pledged a 20 percent cut with an option to cut to 30 percent if other parts of the world will make the same kind of contribution.

The climate money is meant to go toward a global $10 billion annual fund for short-term help to poor countries.