The 12th EU-Japan summit was held on 1-2 May in Athens with the participation of European Council President Costas Simitis, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, European Commission President Romano Prodi and European Commissioner Chris Patten.
According to a joint communique, talks at the summit focused on the situation in the Korean peninsula (which is giving rise to concern not only about possible regional consequences but also global consequences for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction), in Iraq (where there are currently prospects for the country’s rapprochement with the international community), the Middle East problem (regarding which both sides requested the immediate implementation of the 'Road Map') the integration of the Western Balkans in Europe and the Cyprus problem (which should be resolved “through negotiations based on the Annan plan”). Other issues discussed included reconstruction in Afghanistan and developments in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and China.
The European Union also welcomed Koizumi’s commitment to double direct foreign investment in Japan over the next five years and underlined the need to conclude an agreement between the EU and Japan providing for cooperation in anti-competition practices.
At the joint press conference, Koizumi referred to the prolonged recession that followed the ‘Japanese miracle’, noting that it could be attributed in part to the consequences of globalisation as well as the need to modernise the economic system implemented in Japan after World War II. Underlining the need for privatisations and the importance of the private sector’s role, Koizumi said structural reforms had been advanced, tax reform was being advanced, fiscal tools had been activated, efforts were being made to reduce unemployment ("which is not high by European standards but double the usual rate in Japan") and that time was needed before improvements could be seen in the performance of the Japanese economy.
On the same issue, Prodi stressed the need for cooperation and dialogue between the EU and Japan in order to reverse the adverse economic situation and avert a similar situation in Europe. "To this end, the EU is working through the Lisbon Strategy,"Prodi noted, while underlining the need for the EU and Japan to undertake joint initiatives and actions.
Replying to a question on developments in North Korea, Simitis noted that their importance was "not solely regional", underlining that for 50 years the region had been plagued by confrontation and acts that were incompatible with international law. Simitis said the EU and Japan had agreed that through multilateral cooperation a peaceful solution should be sought which respects international law and reflects the interests of all parties in the region.
