Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commissioner for Climate, told AFP there was a "significant possibility" that a deal would be finalised at a meeting of EU environment ministers next week. But "additional conversations" might also be needed, he said.

"In the end, what matters most to me is that we do create the clarity for our societies, for our industries," Hoekstra said in an interview. "It is less important whether this is going to be sealed in one specific meeting."

After months of tough negotiations, in July the European Commission announced it would stick to its headline objective of cutting emissions by 90 percent by 2040, compared to 1990 levels.

A key milestone towards the bloc's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, the target needs sign off from the European parliament and member states.

But this has not been forthcoming.

A commission pledge to create some wiggle room by allowing countries to count carbon credits purchased to finance projects outside Europe has failed to persuade hardliners, like the Czech Republic and Hungary, which think the goal is too ambitious.

France and Poland would like the target to be discussed by EU leaders at a gathering on October 23.

That might be cutting it close, as the commission hopes to have the 2040 objective approved before the UN climate conference (COP30) in the northern Brazilian city of Belem, which starts on November 10.

"I am positive that by then we will certainly have an ambitious target that Europe can take to the international stage," Hoekstra said, speaking on the sidelines of the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.

Denmark, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said Tuesday it has circulated "a text with substantial changes in order to facilitate a compromise" ahead the EU environment ministers' talks next week.

The nearly 200 countries under the Paris Agreement are supposed to put forward updated policies providing a tougher 2035 emissions reduction target and a detailed blueprint for achieving it before COP30.

The EU's 2040 plans should inform the bloc's 2035 submission, but some countries including France are pushing for the two to be treated separately, a position criticised by climate groups worried that the bloc risks abdicating its leading global role on climate issues.

"Make no mistake, everyone outside of Europe knows perfectly well that we continue to be amongst the most ambitious in terms of climate action," said Hoekstra.