H.E. Ambassador Odano's Opening Remarks
at the
Symposium on the Future of Japan-EU Relations
Brussels, 9th February 2010
H.E. Nobutake Odano, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union (R)
Photo Copyright Patricia Michaux
The Symposium on the Future of Japan-EU relations was held at the European Commission's Charlemagne building, Brussels on the 9th February, 2010.
The Symposium was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the European Commission, in association with the European Policy Centre and Japan Foundation.
At their last Summit in May 2009, EU and Japan leaders agreed to begin reflections on how to replace the 2001 Japan-EU Action Plan once it elapses in 2011, with a view to launching talks at the 2010 Summit. The purpose of the symposium was to seek input from a wide range of civil society actors on priorities for the future.
About 140 representatives of business, academia, mass media and civil society as well as officials from Japan and the EU engaged in lively discussions. They exchanged views of future Japan-EU cooperation in the fields of global challenges, bilateral trade and economic relations, peace and security and people-to-people links.
H.E. Nobutake Odano, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union, made some opening remakrs on many of the areas for further cooperation between Japan and the EU.
The following is the text of his speech:
"In Japan, a new government led by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was formed last September. The EU is also in a period of transition after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. It is an important period for both Japan and the EU to reconfirm our intention to strengthen our relations.
This year is the final year for the Japan-EU Action Plan which was adopted in 2001. It has guided us for the last 10 years and played a very prominent role. Japan and the EU will engage in various efforts for strengthening our relations aiming at the new Action Plan based on the achievements so far. Today’s symposium is a part of such efforts.
Japan-EU cooperation has been expanded, deepened, and strengthened globally by political dialogues between the leaders such as an annual summit meeting. Coordination in measures to engage in global issues including the financial and economic crisis, climate change, and energy is a solid example of this cooperation. We also share views on regional policies, for example, Afghanistan and the Middle East Peace Process.
With the EU deepening its integration, the rise in the necessity of economic partnership is very evident. In this context, Japan and the EU are continuing the Regulatory Reform Dialogue to improve the business environment on both sides. In addition, cooperation towards the expansion of mutual recognition and equivalency assessment of accounting standards has been progressed.
Synergy between the EU and Japan in the field of energy has also developed since the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between Japan and the EURATOM took into effect. Nuclear fusion energy, regarded as a future energy, is an important field of scientific cooperation. Japan and the EU have been promoting interchange in ITER and the “broader approach”
The year 2005 was the Japan-EU Year of People to People Exchanges. Such conscious efforts led to a very tangible result of an increase in the number of visitors from Europe to Japan by 40% between 2000 and 2008.
The Agreements on Mutual Recognition, on Customs Mutual Assistance, on Cooperation in Science and Technology, and on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters are a few examples of legal frameworks established for the past ten years. They have strengthened the macro-level relations between Japan and the EU as well as on the member-state level.
The most important thing is that Japanese and European citizens are working together on the ground in various fields including aid to Asia and Africa, research at advanced laboratories, and major projects based on cooperation between business and academia. This is the starting point of our “Action Plan”.
It is necessary for us to further strengthen and expand our cooperations as like-minded partners who share fundamental values and principles such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law. In the political and security fields, Japan and the EU are deepening their partnership to solve disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation issues including North Korea and Iran. We are also tackling together international peace and security challenges which is most evident in Iraq, Afghanistan, and piracy off the coast of Somalia. There were several cases where European cargo ships escaped from potential pirate attacks thanks to the information provided by Japan’s P-3C patrol aircrafts.
In the economic and trade fields, Japan and the EU have a long history of trade and investment as major partners. These past few years, the rapid growth in emerging economies has been in the spotlight. However, Japan and the EU continue to have great potential in this area. For example, Japan and European consumers give greater importance to high quality, good design, durability and safety which provides opportunities for businesses on both sides .
It is also necessary to establish a broader economic partnership, envisioning a comprehensive Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement addressing not only tariff but also non-tariff issues, in order to bring our relations to the next level. We should agree on establishment of a joint study group for this purpose at the summit meeting this year. In addition, while the EU is formulating “the EUROPE 2020 Strategy”, Japan prepared outlines of “New Growth Strategy” last December. We can promote coordination in the field of environment aiming towards 2020 as well
Japan and the EU are playing a leading role in international community. It is essential for us to strengthen our partnership in the fields of climate change, bio-diversity, the Millennium Development Goals, and scientific research projects including ITER. With respect to a “East Asian Community”, Japan would pursue the ideal model of open regional community with the EU as Prime Minister Hatoyama stated in his major policy speech in January. There is much more potential for us to realize such ambitions. "