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OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHC #3173/01 3612003
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271958Z DEC 06
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 203173 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EUN KTIA SENV
SUBJECT: ENERGY-EFFICIENCY LABELING PROGRAMS FOR OFFICE 
EQUIPMENT 
 
 
¶1. This is an urgent action cable. See paras 4 and 5. Please 
note that despite EC holiday status a deadline of COB Friday, 
December 29, is requested. 
 
¶2. BACKGROUND FOR MISSION: USG rep (EPA Deputy Administrator 
Marcus Peacock) and EU reps (Chief of EU Mission in 
Washington Amb. John Bruton and Finnish Ambassador to the 
U.S. Pekka Lintu) signed the Agreement on the Coordination of 
Energy-Efficiency Labeling Programs for Office Equipment at 
Washington on December 20, 2006. By its terms, the Agreement 
is to enter into force upon reciprocal notification by the 
Parties that they have completed their internal procedures 
required for entry into force. Department was unaware that 
Council would present its side of the notifications in a 
diplomatic note at the signing ceremony.  The Council 
respectfully but urgently requested that the U.S. complete 
its part of the diplomatic note exchange by the conclusion of 
the Finnish Presidency at the end of 2006. Text of EC note 
follows in para 3. END BACKGROUND FOR MISSION 
 
¶3. BEGIN TEXT OF EC NOTE 
 
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION GENERAL SECRETARIAT 
 
Brussels, 20 December, 2006 
SGS6/16280 
 
NOTE VERBALE 
 
The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union 
presents its compliments to the Government of the United 
States of America (and) has the honour to confirm that the 
Council, on behalf of the European Community, has completed 
the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of 
the Agreement between the Government of the United States of 
America and the European Community on the coordination of 
energy-efficiency labeling programmes (sic) for office 
equipment, signed at Washington D.C. on 20 December 2006. 
 
This Agreement shall therefore enter into force, in 
accordance with its Article 14(1), on the date on which the 
Council of the European Union receives written communication 
from the United States of America on the completion of its 
internal procedures in this respect. 
 
The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union 
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Government 
of the United States of America the expression of its highest 
consideration. 
 
(seal and initial) 
 
END TEXT OF EC NOTE 
 
¶4. Mission is requested to prepare, initial, and deliver a 
diplomatic note in reply. IMPORTANT: It is very important 
that the note be delivered the same day it is initialed and 
dated. Delivery information is at para 5. Text follows. 
 
BEGIN TEXT OF THE U.S. DIPLOMATIC NOTE 
 
The Mission of the United States of America to the European 
Union refers the General Secretariat of the Council of the 
European Union to its Note Verbale No. SGS6/16280, dated 
December 20, 2006, confirming that the Council of the 
European Union, on behalf of the European Community, has 
completed the internal procedures necessary for the entry 
into force of the Agreement between the Government of the 
United States of America and the European Community on the 
Coordination of Energy-efficiency Labeling Programs for 
Office Equipment, signed at Washington D.C. on December 20, 
2006 ("the Agreement"). 
 
The Mission is pleased to confirm that the Government of the 
United States of America has also completed the internal 
procedures necessary for entry into force of the Agreement 
and considers that the General Secretariat's note and this 
note fulfill the entry into force requirements of Article 
XIV, paragraph 1 of the Agreement. Accordingly, the 
Government of the United States of America considers that the 
Agreement enters into force on the date of this note. 
 
END TEXT OF U.S. DIPLOMATIC NOTE 
 
¶5. Mission should deliver note during the week of December 25 
to an appropriate EU official, and confirm its receipt. In 
lieu of other options, Mission may, by prearranged agreement 
 
STATE 00203173  002 OF 002 
 
 
fax a copy of the note to the appropriate official. 
 
¶6. Department sincerely regrets this imposition during the 
holiday season and heartily thanks Mission officers for their 
understanding and cooperation. A very happy new year to all! 
RICE