ENERGY-EFFICIENCY LABELING PROGRAMS FOR OFFICE

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