1. “Open
Reconstruction” in the Aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake
2.
The MDGs Follow-up Meeting
3.
The 20th Japan-EU Summit
4.
G8 Deauville Summit
5.
2011 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting
6.
The Fourth Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting
7.
The Third TICAD Ministerial Follow-Up Meeting
8.
The Second Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation
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JICC
Newsletter
No.4, June 2011 |
3. The
20th Japan-EU Summit Reaffirms Solidarity and Determination to
Deepen Political and Economic Relations

Pictures: ©Cabinet Public Relations
Office
On May 28, Prime Minister Naoto Kan of Japan, European Council
President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José
Manuel Barroso held the 20th Japan-EU Summit in Brussels. They
reaffirmed their solidarity in the aftermath of the disaster which
struck east Japan on March 11 and expressed their determination to
strengthen political and economic relations between Japan and the
EU. On the occasion of the summit, Japan and the EU hosted the
second Japan-EU English Haiku Contest. The contest provided an
excellent opportunity for mutual exchange between Japan and the EU
through Japanese culture. Furthermore, President Van Rompuy
introduced his own haiku at the joint press conference following the
summit meeting, expressing his solidarity with post-disaster Japan.
(1) Year of Solidarity and “Kizuna” (the Bonds of Friendship)
The EU side suggested that this meeting be the “Kizuna Summit” and
offered their words of sympathy to Japan for the damage the Great
East Japan Earthquake inflicted. The Japanese and EU leaders shared
the view that expanding and deepening their cooperative relations as
well as closer bonds of friendship as global partners who share
fundamental values and principles would contribute to peace and
prosperity throughout the world. Prime Minister Kan expressed his
appreciation for the heartfelt support and solidarity extended by
the EU in the aftermath of the March 11 disaster.
(2) Strengthening Comprehensive Bilateral Relations
The Japanese and EU leaders agreed to start the process for
negotiations for a deep and comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (EPA), addressing all issues of shared interest to both
sides, including tariffs, non-tariff measures, services, investment,
intellectual property rights, competition and public procurement.
The leaders agreed not only on the strengthening of Japan-EU
relations in the economic field, but also agreed on the importance
of steady development of bilateral relations in the political field.
The leaders, for example, agreed to start the process for
negotiation for a binding agreement covering political, global, and
other sectoral cooperation as well. In addition, the specific areas
in which they decided to work together include nuclear safety and
disaster management as well as counter-piracy and assistance to
Afghanistan. Regarding the EU’s current import restrictions on
Japanese products, Prime Minister Kan requested the measures be
based on solid scientific evidence and asked for a relaxation of
such restrictions. The EU agreed that the measures should be based
on scientific evidence.
(3) Partnership in Addressing Global Challenges and Regional Issues
The Japanese and EU leaders exchanged views on a wide range of
global issues, including nuclear safety, energy, climate change, and
the global economy. In light of the Great East Japan Earthquake and
the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plants in
particular, the leaders agreed to work together to ensure the
highest level of nuclear safety worldwide and reinvigorate energy
cooperation.
Prime Minister Kan explained that Japan would build the country’s
energy policy on four pillars: nuclear power, fossil fuels,
renewable energy and energy-efficiency. With regard to nuclear
power, he expressed his commitment to further improve nuclear safety
on the basis of a thorough investigation concerning the recent
accident.
The Japanese and EU leaders also discussed ways to further the
Japan-EU partnership in addressing regional issues, including the
situations in the Middle East and North Africa, nuclear issues in
Iran, North Korea’s uranium enrichment activities, the abduction
issue, and relations with China.
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