In order to further promote EU-focused education and outreach in Japan, the second EU Institute in Japan (EUIJ) will be officially inaugurated in the Kansai area in Kobe on 30 September 2005.

The EUIJ Kansai is a consortium formed by the three Kansai-based universities of Kobe (co-ordinating university), Kwansei Gakuin and Osaka, established on 1 April 2005, with financial support from the European Commission.

The consortium aims to foster a better understanding of the objectives, values and policies of the EU among the Japanese public at all levels as well as to promote academic interactions, including in Science & Technology, thus contributing to the strengthening of the EU-Japan partnership in the 21st century. It is of particular relevance as 2005 is the year of EU-Japan People to People Exchanges.

On 30 September, Ambassador Bernhard Zepter, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Japan, and Professor Hiromasa Kubo, President of EUIJ Kansai, together with Professors Tomoyuki Nogami, Kazuo Hiramatsu and Hideo Miyahara, the presidents of the three universities will jointly open the day's events with a press conference.

source: Delegation of the European Commission in Japan