From 28 to 30 May, 13 Members of the European Parliament (EP) Delegation for Relations with Japan (D-JP) visited Tokyo and Osaka. The delegation was headed by D-JP Vice Chair Elżbieta Łukacijewska.

The EP, represented by the delegation of D-JP Members, and the National Diet of Japan held their 42nd Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM) in Tokyo on 28-29 May 2025. The previous meeting was held in July 2023 in Strasbourg, France. 

During their stay, the Members of the European Parliament met with Mr Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Masakazu Sekiguchi, President of the House of Councillors, Mr Hajime Funada, Chair of the Diet Delegation to the IPM, Ms Toshiko Abe, Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Mr Takeshi Iwaya, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr Takekazu Morioka, Deputy Governor of Osaka Prefecture.

Members also met representatives of Japanese civil society groups on artificial intelligence (AI)/digitalisation and privacy issues as well as Human Rights Now on women's rights. In Osaka, Members visited Expo 2025 Osaka, which Japan is hosting until October. At the Expo, members visited the pavilions of Japan, the European Union (EU) and Poland. They also visited selected signature and private-sector pavilions, including the Women’s Pavilion and the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, as well as the “Earth Mart” and “Dialogue Theatre” pavilions. 

Upon the conclusion of the visit, delegation Chair Łukacijewska underlined that "the partnership with Japan is very important for the EU and the EP. We consider Japan as one of our closest partners." She emphasised that the EU "truly values Japan’s common stance on the principles defending the international rule of law and the self-determination and integrity of all nations. We both also strive for open trade."

Łukacijewska also highlighted the many agreements recently announced with Japan such as the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership and the Digital Partnership, and the entry into force of the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), our political framework agreement for years to come. 

She added that "the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which has been in force for six years, has proven its benefits. With the current turbulence in global trade, reliable trading partners like Japan are highly valued". 

“Parliamentary diplomacy is an integral dimension in our bilateral relations. We intend to significantly intensify formal and informal dialogues together with our Japanese friends of the National Diet", she underlined.

Composition of the EP delegation: Vice Chair Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (EPP, Poland); Vice President Christel Schaldemose (S&D, Denmark); Vice President Roberts Zile (ECR, Latvia); Jens Geier, (S&D, Germany); Pablo Arias Echeverria (EPP, Spain); Gordan Bosanac, (Greens/EFA, Croatia); Virginie Joron (PfE, France); Alexander Sell (ESN, Germany); Jaroslav Bzoch (PfE, Czechia); Sandra Gomez Lopez (S&D, Spain); Ana Miguel Pedro (EPP, Portugal); and Hristo Petrov (Renew, Bulgaria).