Energy, environment and natural resources

Executive Order 13705: Designating the International Renewable Energy Agency as a Public International Organization Entitled To Enjoy Certain Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities

President: Barack Obama

Designated the International Renewable Energy Agency for the privileges, exemptions and immunities available to qualifying international organizations.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13705 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13705’s International Organizations Immunities Act designation remains unrevoked. The January 7, 2026 presidential memorandum directed withdrawal from IRENA without revoking this designation, and the State Department’s July 10, 2026 Foreign Affairs Manual still lists IRENA under Executive Order 13705. Sources: Federal Register 2015 executive order disposition table, EO 13705; Signed Executive Order 13705; January 7, 2026 presidential memorandum on international-organization withdrawal; State Department, 9 FAM 402.3, July 10, 2026 revision.

What does Executive Order 13705 do?

EO 13705 designated IRENA under the International Organizations Immunities Act after the United States became a member. The designation gives the organization and qualifying officials access to statutory privileges involving property, legal process, customs and taxation, subject to the Act and any reservations or later limits. It remains unrevoked and supports IRENA’s official activity in the United States.

Administration position: Designation does not grant unlimited immunity to every employee or all conduct; the statute, official capacity and any applicable waiver determine scope.
SignedSeptember 3, 2015
OrganizationInternational Renewable Energy Agency
StatuteInternational Organizations Immunities Act

Before and after

Before the order

IRENA lacked a US presidential designation under the immunities statute.

After the order

IRENA could receive the legal treatment Congress made available to designated international organizations.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Federal agencies and courtsRecognize statutory privileges where applicableContinuing
IRENAOperate subject to the Act and organizational rulesContinuing
PresidentModify or revoke designation if warrantedNot exercised

What happened next

EO 13705 granted the IOIA designation.

A presidential memorandum directed withdrawal from IRENA, but did not expressly revoke Executive Order 13705’s immunities designation. Official source.