Brussels, 21/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Finnish EU Presidency and the US Agency for the protection of the environment signed a new Energy Star agreement in Washington on Wednesday on energy efficiency of office equipment. This will allow the voluntary programme, launched in 2001 on energy labelling of products, to be pursued for five years (EUROPE 8002). The Energy Star programme allows EU Member State and the United States to coordinate their efforts to implement, in cooperation with industry, measures to improve the energy efficiency of office equipment. Largely accepted by manufacturers, mainly via the stimulation of criteria for access to public procurement, Energy Star guarantees transparency of information for consumers on energy performance of office equipment. The new agreement, which contains innovative and ambitious energy efficiency criteria for screens, photocopiers, printers, telecopiers, scanners and multifunctional appliances, would allow over 30 TWh to be saved in just three years. (For further information, see: http://www.eu-energystar.or ). (eh)