LUXEMBOURG, June 19 — Luxembourg’s Energy minister Claude Turmes described the proposal to extend subsidies for coal plants as "astonishing” today, adding a large bloc of EU member states would oppose such a move.

"Friday, the Swedish presidency did something really astonishing which is weakening our climate policy by (...) reopening the possibility to subsidise coal power plants,” he told reporters ahead of meeting of EU energy ministers in Luxembourg.

"We have a big bloc of countries that will reject the proposal of the Swedish presidency (...) so it’s a clear no,” Turmes added, after meeting with officials from 14 countries. — Reuters