EU - Japan relations: Overall Context

EU-Japan relations are in good shape and developing steadily on all fronts. The 1991 Political Declaration on relations between the European Community and its Member States and Japan established common principles and shared objectives in the political, economic, co-operation and cultural areas and established a consultation framework for annual meetings between Japan and the EU. These include the annual Summit meeting between the President of the European Council, The President of the European Commission and Japan's Prime Minster; biannual Ministerial Troika meetings between the EU Troika at Foreign Ministers level and the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and an annual Commission-Japan Ministerial meeting.

At the 10 th EU-Japan Summit, held in Brussels in December 2001 , the decision was taken to develop and enhance the EU-Japan relationship with the adoption of an Action Plan for reinforced cooperation over the next ten years so as to shape our common future. The Action Plan has been assigned four basic objectives:

As such, it is a key instrument for establishing a strong, concrete and results-oriented partnership with proper visibility. Implementation of the Action Plan is now underway.

text from The EU's relations with Japan

Chronology of EU-Japan relations

Delegation of the European Commission in Japan
The main tasks of the Delegation include the following:
- It represents the European Commission in Japan.
- It liaises in Japan between the European Commission and the Japanese Government in the maintenance of bilateral relationship.
- It follows issues of EU interest in Japan for reporting to the Commission Headquarters. - It acts as the spokesman of the European Commission in Japan.
- It promotes EU-Japan relations through contacts with every spectrum of the Japanese society.
- It co-operates with Member States' Embassies, the European business community and others in Japan for a higher and better profile of Europe in Japan.

The Japanese Mission to the European Union
The major tasks performed by the Japanese Mission are the following:
- Maintaining and developing the various relationships between the EU and Japan, both in economic and in political fields, in coordination with the European Commission;
- Co-operating with the EU on global issues such as world trade, the environment, non-proliferation, science and techonology, assistance to LDC or to ex-Yugoslavia;
- Following developments in Europe, centering on the movement towards integration.

EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation
A non profit organization which established by the European Commission of the EU (Directorate General for Enterprise) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. The main objective of the EU-Japan Centre is to contribute to, and facilitate industrial co-operation between Japan and the European Union.

European Business Community (EBC)
"Promoting the interests of European businesses in Japan".
The trade policy arm of the thirteen European National Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations in Japan.

Japan Business Council in Europe
Founded in 1998 as the representative organization for Japanese companies operating in European Union.

The ETP Association (ETPA)
The ETP Association (ETPA) grew out of the Executive Training Programme in Japan (ETP). The ETP is an initiative of the European Commission, aimed at educating groups of European businessmen and women about Japan, its language, its culture, and especially its business practices. The Programme runs for 18 months and comprises a one-year intensive language course with a parallel programme of seminars and industrial visits followed by six months of in-house training in selected Japanese companies and other organisations.

EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee
The purpose of this organization is to promote greater mutual understanding and mutual trust between Japan and the European Union and to contribute to the development of world peace and international cooperation through exchanges in culture and the arts.