VZCZCXRO2111
OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #8088 2570103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 130056Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RHMCSUU/HQ EPA WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/AGRICULTURE DEPT WASHINGTON DC 1963

UNCLAS STATE 098088 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KGHG EAGR SENV ENRG TRGY EUN SIPDIS
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: INTENSIFIED U.S.-EU EXPERT- 
LEVEL MEETINGS ON BIOFUELS SUSTAINABILITY 
 
REF: USEU 1171 
 
¶1. This is an action request for USEU Brussels. 
 
OBJECTIVES 
 
¶2. Department instructs Post to pursue the following 
action plan: 
 
-- Work with European Commission (EC) expert-level 
contacts, EPA, DOE, USDA, and other USG agencies to 
schedule and conduct a bilateral Digital Videoconference 
(DVC) in late September on biofuels sustainability.  The 
focus would be on the U.S. presenting the draft 
sustainability criteria currently being developed by the 
interagency Sustainability Working Group (SWG), and 
planned to be presented to the Biomass Research and 
Development Board in mid-September, and the EU 
presenting the latest developments in their work on 
sustainability criteria. 
 
-- Please work to ensure that the next round of 
discussions involves a meaningful exchange.  Work 
closely with appropriate USG agencies and the EC to 
develop a detailed agenda including specific agenda 
items, determining who will lead on each point for each 
side, and assigning lead on some points to the EC. 
 
-- Following on the DVC, please work with appropriate 
USG agencies to develop and pursue appropriate follow-up 
in order to reach the interagency goal. 
 
-- Our initial policy goal is to continue and strengthen 
the cooperative exchanges on sustainability criteria 
between experts on both sides, to ensure that biofuels 
sustainability criteria developed by the EU are grounded 
in science and compatible with U.S. criteria.  Given 
that the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 
(EISA) commits the USG to a similar examination, the 
ideal outcome would be compatible criteria for assessing 
biofuels sustainability on both sides of the Atlantic. 
 
-- Our broad-gauge policy goal is to influence European 
Commission experts, as they develop sustainability 
criteria for biofuels, to rely on science; to work 
towards compatibility or at least general alignment with 
criteria, methodologies and work undertaken by the U.S.; 
and to incorporate additional scientific information as 
it emerges. 
 
-- These efforts are distinct from, but complementary to 
and consistent with, our efforts in the Global Bio- 
Energy Partnership to work with the Europeans and others 
on voluntary criteria and methodologies for use in the 
conduct of lifecyle or well-to-tank/well-to-wheel 
greenhouse gas analysis of biofuels. 
 
-- For your reference, the interagency community expects 
to seek an additional follow-up videoconference after 
the draft regulations for biofuels pursuant to EISA have 
been issued. 
 
REPORTING DEADLINE AND POINTS OF CONTACT 
 
¶3. Post should report results of effort by cable to 
EUR/ERA Matthew Beh (202 647 1820, behmk@state.gov) and 
OES/EGC Drew Nelson (202 736 7444, nelsonds@state.gov) 
before September 16, 2008.  Please contact them by phone 
or email with any questions or requests for background 
information. 
 
BACKGROUND AND GUIDANCE POINTS 
 
¶4. Department expresses appreciation for Reftel as the 
summary of activity on this topic on the EU side. 
Please see forthcoming Septel for USG points for further 
engagement on this topic. 
RICE