Brussels - European Union states and members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday reached an informal deal on a law boosting the amount of renewable energy, such as wave and solar power, which the bloc uses in 2020.

They also reached agreement on a law aimed at increasing the amount of plant-based bio-fuels the EU uses to 10 per cent of total consumption, officials said.

After informal talks between MEPs and the French government, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, MEPs gave their backing to a proposal to boost the amount of renewable energy used in the EU to 20 per cent by 2020.

The deal, which followed an agreement between EU energy ministers on Monday, came after MEPs agreed that the 20-per-cent target should stand regardless of the results of a review scheduled by the EU's executive, the European Commission, for 2014.

In January, the commission proposed a law setting individual targets for each member state to boost its use of renewable energy as a way of meeting the overall EU target.

Tuesday's agreement, while still needing ratification by EU member states and the full European Parliament, gives a strong political impulse to that proposal.

However, in deference to member states' wishes, it also includes a number of clauses which would give those states credit for supporting renewable-energy projects in other countries.

As part of the deal, MEPs also backed a call for the EU to produce at least 10 per cent of its transport fuel from renewable sources such as plants by 2020.

The issue has aroused heated debate in the EU, with environmental groups warning that an over-zealous use of plant fuels could cause massive deforestation and food-price rises in developing countries.

To take those fears into account, EU officials and MEPs agreed to a set of rules aimed at making sure that only environmentally-friendly bio-fuels are counted towards the overall target.

The renewable-energy proposal forms part of a package of measures which the EU has proposed to fight climate change.

EU leaders are set to debate the entire package at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, while the parliament is set to debate it in plenary session on December 17. (dpa)