23/01/2020 (Agence Europe) – EPP French MEP Geoffroy Didier, a member of the European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs, on Thursday 23 January, called on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to refer the matter to the Joint Monitoring Committee provided for under the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement. In a letter, the MEP considers that the Japanese authorities, by giving sole custody of the children of separated Euro-Japanese couples to the Japanese parent, do not comply, inter alia, with Article 1 of the agreement, according to which its provisions are conditional on “the promotion of common values and principles, in particular democracy, the Rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms”. If no progress is observed, then consideration should be given to suspending the agreement, Mr Didier believes. See the letter (in French): http://bit.ly/30LpsOM (CG)