WASHINGTON (AP) – President Bush and European leaders claimed progress Monday in the effort to reduce global warming, largely by agreeing that climate change requires global action without infringing on the rights of nations to choose their own strategies.

“I think that each country needs to recognize that we must reduce our greenhouse gases and deal, obviously, with their own internal politics, to come up with an effective strategy,” Bush said at a U.S.-European Union summit at the White House.

“The good news is, is that we recognize there’s a problem,” Bush said. “The good news is (we) recognize technology is going to lead to solutions, and that we’re willing to share those technologies.”

Bush spoke alongside European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the president of the European Union. They agreed on a statement that links climate change and secure, affordable energy as global challenges.

International experts warn that unabated greenhouse gas emissions will drive up global temperatures, which in turn could exacerbate drought conditions, harm animal and plant life and yield other detrimental effects. The agreement the leaders signed Monday promotes alternative fuels and energy efficiency, with a promise of cooperation on emerging technologies.

“We agree there is a threat, there is a very serious and global threat,” Barroso said.

“Let’s be frank,” he said. “Without the United States and Europe working together, we cannot engage others so that we can have a real global effort to face this very important threat to our economy, but also to our security.”

The White House has resisted European pressure to participate in international efforts to cap carbon emissions. Bush has rejected mandatory cutbacks, complaining they would hobble the U.S. economy. His administration is pushing to cut gasoline consumption by up to 20 percent over 10 years through higher fuel-economy standards for cars and increased reliance on alternative fuels.

Officials on Monday played up a positive theme. They said their statement on the climate issue shows how much they have in common.