And for that reason it makes sense for couples to think about and to talk about in advance the possibility of tackling a joint undertaking.

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Programs like Energy Star, a joint undertaking of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, have sought to provide such information in the past.

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Private firms are expected to put up a large chunk of the initial cost and, in June, a public-private body known as the Joint Undertaking was set up to carry the project to completion.

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One of them involved the Joint Maritime Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) in 2004 for oil exploration in the South China Sea, which has been shrouded in controversy, as it may have conceded territorial waters to China.

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Secretary Clinton and I have been back in Europe this week building on what President Obama accomplished during his four-country trip there in May and focusing on the important joint efforts we are undertaking with our European allies and partners to advance democracy in the region and around the world.

WHITEHOUSE: Advancing Democratic Progress with European Allies and Partners | The White House