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Bilateral Meeting between Keiichiro Asao, Minister of the Environment of Japan, and Jessica Roswall, the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy and Launch of the Working Group on Circular Economy

19.09.2025 Press and information team of the Delegation to JAPAN

EU News 015/2025

  1. On September 19, 2025, Keiichiro Asao, Minister of the Environment of Japan, met with Jessica Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy. 

  2. They exchanged views on various issues, such as circular economy, pollution, and biodiversity. 

  3. They officially launched Working Group on Circular Economy. 

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  1. On September 19, 2025, Keiichiro Asao, Minister of the Environment of Japan, met with Jessica Roswall, the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy.  They exchanged views on priority areas of bilateral cooperation, including circular economy, pollution, and biodiversity and officially launched the Working Group on Circular Economy, which was discussed and decided during the 20th High Level Dialogue on environment and confirmed upon at the 30th Japan-European Union Summit. 

  2. They reaffirmed their firm commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation on a circular economy and to promoting circular economy approaches globally. The launch of the Working Group led by the Ministry of the Environment and Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission is a pivotal step to fulfil this objective. 

  3. The launch of the Working Group on Circular Economy is in line with the outcome at the recent Japan-EU Summit and advances the EU-Japan Green Alliance, initiated in May 2021. The Working Group will operate regularly with relevant stakeholders as appropriate, and its activities and outcomes may further enhance discussions at the High-Level Dialogue on Environment. 

  4. Minister Asao and Commissioner Roswall exchanged views on key priorities for cooperation and welcomed this enhanced collaboration as an effective means to address shared environmental challenges and foster competitive, sustainable industries. This partnership is vital for ensuring long-term economic and environmental resilience.

  5. The first Working Group meeting on Circular Economy took place that day with working-level officials in attendance.