Conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star
on Dr. Georg Jarzembowski
Dr. Georg Jarzembowski (L) and H.E. Ambassador Nobutake Odano (R)
Dr. Georg Jarzembowski was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star on 29th April 2010 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of Japan-European Union relations as former Chair of Delegation for relations with Japan at the European Parliament.
H.E. Nobutake Odano, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union, presented the award to Dr. Georg Jarzembowski on the 2nd June at a reception held in Brussels. The following is the text of Ambassador Odano's speech:
"It is my pleasure to welcome you to my residence this evening to honour our friend, Dr. Georg Jarzembowski. This evening’s occasion is a happy one. For his sterling work over the years to strengthen the Japan-EU relationship, Dr. Georg Jarzembowski is being decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, one of the highest honours Japan can bestow. It is a recognition that Dr. Jarzembowski is a true friend of Japan.
Dr. Jarzembowski’s is a career rich in achievement. Let me refer to one or two points which highlight the positive impact he has had on the relations between Japan and the EU.
Dr. Jarzembowski was an MEP from 1991 to 2009 and he held prominent positions including the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship of the Delegation for Relations with Japan. In total, he served the delegation for 15 years. He has been a central political figure in the biggest political group, the European People’s Party. His expertise in Asian matters was of great benefit, indeed he led the European Parliament’s policy towards Asia, including Japan.
In the last parliamentary term, he accompanied the visit of the President of the European Parliament, Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering to Asia. The President commented that he had chosen Japan as his first destination in Asia as a testament to the depth of shared values between Japan and Europe. This can be seen as an example of the positive role that Dr. Jarzembowski has played in Japan-EU relations, for he greatly contributed to the furthering of understanding of Japan and of Asia in the European Parliament. This in turn has contributed to a strengthening and deepening of the Japan-EU relationship.
Indeed, this strengthened relationship was shown at the most recent Japan-EU summit, in Tokyo this April 28th. At the summit, Prime Minister Hatoyama of Japan, President Herman Van Rompuy and President Barroso decided to establish a Joint High-Level Group to examine the ways to comprehensively strengthen and integrate the Japan-EU economic relationship. We hope that you, gathered friends of Japan, will help to ensure that this opportunity leads to a closer economic relationship, and as we hope, to an economic partnership agreement (EPA).
Japan and the EU are close in terms of shared core values and perspectives on global governance, but they are far apart in terms of distance. Dr Jarzembowski’s great success is that he acted as a bridge, linking our two homelands, furthering mutual understanding and drawing them closer together through the ties of friendship."