Emissions by the 15 EU nations that made a collective commitment under the UN pact fell by 0.8 percent between 2004 and 2005, the Copenhagen-based European Environment Agency (EAA) reported.

Since 1990 -- the year of reference for pledges under Kyoto -- emissions by the EU-15 have fallen by 1.5 percent, the EAA said.

Under Kyoto, the EU-15 promised a reduction of eight percent by the end of 2012, when the treaty runs out. This reduction was then apportioned individually among the 15 states.

The EAA figures pointed to continuing good progress by Germany, the biggest European economy, whose emissions fell by 2.3 percent in 2005 over 2004, thanks to a shift from coal to gas in electricity and heat production and declines in emissions from road traffic.

Under the Kyoto shareout, Germany promised a reduction of 21 percent by 2012 compared to the 1990 benchmark. By 2005, it had achieved a reduction of 18.4 percent, the EAA figures showed.

Emissions by France fell by 0.5 percent in 2005 over 2004. It is on course for exceeding its Kyoto target, with cuts of 1.9 percent so far over 1990, compared with a 2012 goal of zero percent.

British emissions were down by 0.5 percent in 2005, and like France it too is on track. The 2012 objective is a cut of 12.5 percent over 1990; so far, the reduction is 14.8 percent.

On paper, the star performer in 2005 was Finland, whose 2005 emissions were 14.6 percent lower over 2004. Some of the fall was attributable to decreasing use of coal, but in fact most of the rest was due to a rise in importing electricity from its neighbours.

The major economies of Italy and Spain stood out, though, for emissions increases.

Italy's rose 0.3 percent in the year, causing the country to fall even further behind in its Kyoto programme. Its emissions at the end of 2005 were 12.1 percent above the 1990 level, whereas it has promised a cut of 6.5 percent over that year.

Spain's emissions rose a whopping 3.6 percent in 2005. Its annual pollution is now 53.5 percent above the 1990 threshold but it has agreed to limit this rise to 15.0 percent by the end of 2012.

Emissions by the 27-nation EU fell by 0.7 percent between 2004 and 2005. The "EU-27" does not have a common goal under Kyoto.

Kyoto covers emissions for six greenhouse gases, the most common of which is carbon dioxide (CO2).

The inventory compiled by the EAA is handed to Kyoto's parent organisation, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as a treaty obligation.

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