Japan-EU Summitt meeting at UNGA
New York, 22nd September 2011
H.E. Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, H.E. Mr. Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda at the United Nations General Assembly.
On 22nd September, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with H.E. Mr. Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and H.E. Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
1. At the beginning, Mr. Van Rompuy expressed his congratulations to Mr. Noda's new appointment as Prime Minister of Japan. Mr. Noda, expressed his gratitude to ths assistance of the European Union after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Prime Minister stated, that he would tackle the main priorities for Japan, which he noted as being the earthquake reconstruction and economic growth. He also noted that he would play an active role in contributing to global issues.
2. Mr. Van Rompuy stated that the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station resulted in a strong impact on nuclear policy in Europe in assuring that the safety of nuclear power is the common responsibility to be shared by both Japan and Europe. Mr. Noda responded by commenting that he would like to contribute to the international community by sharing the lessons learned from this accident in an accurate and prompt manner.
3. Mr. Noda also commented, that having agreed to start the process for negotiations for the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, (EPA), and an agreement in the political field at the Japan-EU Summitt meeting in May 2011, the discussions should be accelerated towards the economic partnership at a high level, as global partners sharing basic values. Mr. Barroso noted in response, that the EU is completely committed to promote the recent agreement, and that there is great potential for cooperation between the EU and Japan.