The 26th EU-Japan Summit, which took place in Brussels yesterday, focussed on the implementation of two landmark agreements concluded last year: the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement and Economic Partnership Agreement. "This is a truly historic time for Japan, with its current presidency of the G20 and the accession of Crown Prince Naruhito as Emperor next week...
Japan can rely on the European Union on both counts: to strengthen multilateralism, and to support its new era of Reiwa, which means “beautiful harmony” and perfectly sums up our partnership", said President Jean-Claude Juncker, who represented the European Union at the Summit with Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe, alongside the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. "Our new Economic Partnership Agreement is a landmark moment for global trade. The vast majority of the €1 billion of duties paid annually by EU companies exporting to Japan and vice-versa have been removed. This will help trade between us increase by up to nearly €36 billion. We now need to ensure that this success story continues by making sure we stay on track with the implementation", said President Juncker.The Summit delivered a number of concrete outcomes, which are detailed in a Joint Summit Statement as well as a full press release. These include a joint commitment to strengthen cooperation on global issues and the rules-based international orderwith multilateralism, democracy, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, open markets and a global trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core; working together on international initiatives on data protection; a new EU-Japan Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure; and discussions on addressing regional and foreign policy issues, and strengthening the EU-Japan security partnership. For more information on EU-Japan relations, consult the dedicated factsheet and the website of the EU Delegation in Tokyo.