Brussels, 16/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the European Commission welcomed the adoption of a new Japanese law authorising Japanese and foreign lawyers registered in Japan to work unhindered in partnerships. This law deregulates the Japanese market for international legal services by getting rid of the current restrictive system of the designated joint enterprise, which hinders collaboration between Japanese and foreign lawyers. This new law, however, will only really enter into force at the end of a two year transition period. Methods for application will be set by the Japanese federation of bar associations (Nichibenren). The European Commissioner in charge of the internal market, Frits Bolkestein, has therefore written to the Japanese Justice Minister, Mayumi Moriyama, requesting that he monitors the full entry into force of this document before the transition period. He has also proposed that foreign lawyers are able to take party in the elaboration process for implementation rules.