Reuters AlertNet - ANALYSIS-European climate backlash puts global deal at risk

BRUSSELS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Europe's plan to lead the world towards a deal on fighting climate change has been seriously imperilled by a backlash by Italy, Poland and other east European nations wary of the short-term costs.

France, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency, has staked its reputation on finalising the plan to cut EU carbon emissions by a fifth by 2020.

Few think French President Nicolas Sarkozy will fail to broker agreement this year, but many fear that amid an economic crisis he might hand out so many concessions to reluctant states that the final laws do little to prevent global warming.

And with Europe's credibility damaged, it will struggle to coax China, Russia or other major emitters to agree to meaningful emissions cuts at a meeting in Copenhagen next year to agree a successor to the Kyoto Protocol after 2012.