Brussels, 23/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The 13th summit between the European Union and Japan came to a close on Tuesday in Tokyo with a series of decisions aimed at forging a solid strategic partnership between the two parties. After the one-hour meeting between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Commission President Romano Prodi, the latter spoke of the "very constructive atmosphere of the summit" mainly due to the "better economic prospects". Mr Ahern hoped the links between Japanese and European business circles would be enhanced and extended, while Mr Koizumi said the EU and Japan share the same values of democracy and market economy.
Discussions on peace and international security covered greater disarmament and non-proliferation and resulted in the adoption of a joint declaration in which the EU and Japan undertake to strengthen cooperation in the fight against weapons of mass destruction, but also in the control of conventional weapons. Japan and the EU call on North Korea to pledge to follow the road toward a negotiated agreement concerning its nuclear activity. On the subject of the terrorist threat, they decided to hold a joint meeting as soon as possible and stressed that international security can only result in effective multilateralism around the United Nations. Reform of the Security Council should allow the UN to act in a more democratic and representative, effective and transparent way and to carry out its mandate correctly, the EU and Japan say. On the subject of Iraq, they hailed the Security Council Resolution 1546. They called for an end to violence in the Middle East and reaffirmed that the Quartet's roadmap is the only possibility for attaining a Palestinian State that lives side by side in peace with the State of Israel.
With a view to increasing the inter-penetration of the European and Japanese economies, the EU and Japan presented an agreement for two-way promotion of investment, which provides for concrete measures so that, for example, dialogue may be initiated on new regulations or facilitate the treatment of foreign residents. Both partners asked for the work currently being carried out by the Commission to establish equivalence between international accounting standards and those in force in Japan to result as soon as possible, and by 2007 at the latest. The EU and Japan also insisted on the importance of cooperation on intellectual property rights and presented a joint initiative aimed at strengthening the implementation of these rights in Asia to better fight against counterfeiting and piracy. As far as information and communication technologies are concerned, their cooperation was made official in a joint declaration. The EU and Japan hope above all to successfully conclude the second phase of the world summit on the information society in 2005, by implementing the Action Plan drawn up in Geneva in 2003. They insist that the points already adopted in the plan must not be re-opened.
Progress in all these areas will be examined during the next summit in 2005, which was declared the "year for people-to-people exchanges" between the EU and Japan, and which should see the creation of a second European University Institute in Japan (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.8).
On the eve of the summit, the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Round Table submitted its recommendations for 2004 to the European and Japanese authorities (see EUROPE of 22 June, p.12). The Round Table calls on discussion partners to work in favour of adopting international common accounting standards and to intensify their cooperation in the field of information and communication technology. At the WTO, the EU and Japan are expected to show a common resolve and underline the need for flexibility on key issues under negotiation (see also yesterday's EUROPE, p.8). Life sciences and biotechnologies (with sustainable development) were for the first time the object of sectoral recommendations by the Round Table, which stresses how important it is for business growth in the sector to promote their image with the general public. A number of recommendations of the Round Table in 2003 received a response after this summit but the 2004 recommendations also stress points to be consolidated.
In a press release, Eurochambers insisted on the fact that "strong EU involvement in favour of promoting exports to Japan is needed". The European network of Chambers of Commerce and Industry insists, in the voice of its International Affairs Director Dirk Vantygem, that "European SMEs would largely benefit from enormous commercial opportunities with Japan, if the 'Gateway to Japan' programme continues after 2006".