21/05/24 (Agence Europe) – The Council Decision on the conclusion of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between Japan and the European Union and its Member States was published in the Official Journal of the EU on Tuesday, 21 May. This agreement had been signed on 17 June 2018, and its conclusion was adopted by the Council of the EU on 22 April, following ratification by Ireland on 5 April. Its aim is to strengthen cooperation and dialogue between Japan and the EU and its Member States “across a broad range of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues”. The sectors concerned notably include security, space, information technology, industrial policy, energy, and even transport. This SPA is the first-ever bilateral framework agreement between the EU and Japan. To see the decision in the Official Journal of the EU: https://aeur.eu/f/cac (PLD)