Luxembourg, 07/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU's interior ministers endorsed an EU-Japan agreement on Thursday 7 October that will increase cooperation between the judicial authorities for criminal law in both areas. The agreement is the first of its type in that no member state has any bilateral judicial cooperation agreement with Japan. It covers a wide range of measures like the seeking of evidence, the seizure of objects, obtaining information about bank accounts, the organisation of hearings and witness accounts by video. The agreement includes a series of reason for refusing to cooperate, like political crimes, non-discrimination, non bis in idem and double indemnity) and expressly states that for requests in connection with crimes for which the death penalty may be applied (the death penalty is still legal in Japan), then European countries can refuse to help Japan. (B.C./transl.fl)