GENEVA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland on Sunday welcomed the European Union's new renewable energy targets that aim to step up climate protection by increasing the use of green power by 20 percent by 2020.

    The targets are an "important reference point" for Switzerland, which is currently in a debate on green power, energy efficiency and the introduction of a CO2 tax, said Swiss Environment Minister Moritz Leuenberger.

    EU leaders on Friday agreed to adopt a binding target of a 20 percent increase in the use of green power, such as wind and solar energy, by 2020.

    Measures could include a ban on filament light bulbs by 2010, forcing people to switch to fluorescent bulbs. The EU's 27 members will each decide for themselves how to reach the targets.

    The agreement has been hailed by the EU as "the most ambitious package ever agreed by any institution on energy security and climate change."

    But Leuenberger said it could be difficult for the EU to meet its ambitious targets, particularly for CO2, the level of which should be cut by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

    "Should I admire the fact that the it is so wide-ranging or should I already have doubts about how it will be carried out?" he told the Swiss NZZ am Sonntag newspaper.

    However, Leuenberger said the Swiss energy strategy -- which is due to be submitted to the full cabinet this year -- went even further and that Switzerland had given itself a longer time to implement changes -- 2030.

    Specific measures would ensure that the targets would be met, said the minister. This involved encouraging more green power and a more efficient use of energy.

    Switzerland is in contact with the EU over climate issues and is looking into forming a working group, he added.