EU-Japan: Annual Joint Committee meeting reviews strong strategic partnership
On 13 April 2022, senior officials from the EU and Japan convened for an informal meeting via videoconference of the EU-Japan Joint Committee - which coordinates the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement. They reviewed the state of implementation of the Agreement and identified the next steps for further strengthening relations, in view of a bilateral summit meeting in Tokyo later this year. The meeting demonstrated the breadth and depth of the Strategic Partnership, which provides a solid basis for continued deepened cooperation between the EU and Japan.
The EU and Japan both condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a blatant violation of international law and in particular the UN Charter. They confirmed their intention to continue to coordinate closely their responses on the wide-ranging sanctions against Russia, including in the framework of G7. The EU and Japan equally condemned the role of the illegitimate Lukashenko regime in Belarus in facilitating the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They discussed the impact on the broader security environment in the Indo-Pacific and identified avenues to further boost their security and defence cooperation, including on cybersecurity, maritime security, disinformation, and non-proliferation.
The EU and Japan confirmed their full commitment to an ambitious implementation of the Green Alliance and exchanged views on the progress made. They shared priority areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation under the Alliance to accelerate transition towards climate neutral and resilient, biodiversity-friendly, circular and resource efficient economies by 2050.
They discussed progress in the implementation of the EU-Japan Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure and looked forward to further progress in the identification of projects for collaboration in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions, while exploring further possibilities in common priority areas.
The EU and Japan looked forward to the finalisation in the near future of the ongoing joint work on the launching of an ambitious EU-Japan Digital Partnership.
Finally, the EU raised the issue of COVID-19 entry restrictions on EU residents with the aim of restoring visa reciprocity.
The EU delegation was led by Mr Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific, European External Action Service. The delegation of Japan was led by Mr Hideki Uyama, Director-General, European Affairs Bureau, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Member States and services of the European Commission also participated, as well as representatives of other Japanese ministries.
The next EU-Japan Joint Committee will be held in 2023 in Tokyo.