Luxembourg, 02/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - Alongside the economic aspects of the EU-Japan action plan adopted in 2001, international issues very much dominated the Summit between Jean-Claude Juncker, José Manuel Barroso, Javier Solana and the Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, in Luxembourg on 2 May, with particular focus on relations with China and the lifting of the arms embargo currently being discussed by the Europeans. Mr Koizumi reiterated Tokyo's reservations on this issue: “I have voiced our concerns on this dossier and I believe that our European friends have taken note of them”, he said at the press conference. Pointing out that the Luxembourg Presidency had received a mandate last December from the European Council to conclude its work by the end of June, Mr Juncker said that the Europeans were taking “very seriously the observations made by the United States and Japan”. “If agreement is reached, the EU's intention is not to resume arms exports to China which would endanger security in that part of Asia”, he said, adding that “it is in any case too soon to give a definitive answer on this issue”. With the North Korean nuclear issue, the growing concern for relations between Beijing and Taipei after the adoption last March by the Chinese Parliament of an anti-secession law under which China would use force if Taiwan declared its independence, and the current mounting nationalistic tension between Tokyo and Beijing, the geostrategic balance and security in the eastern Asia were at the centre of talks and led to “a very frank exchange of views”, said Mr Juncker and Mr Koizumi, who also said that “Japan and the EU will establish reinforced dialogue on the strategic balance in our region”. Both sides also repeated their call to Pyongyang to “completely dismantle their military nuclear programme” and return to the negotiating tale with the US, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. On Iranian nuclear power, Mr Koizumi assured the EU of his support in negotiations being conducted by the EU3 (see other article). There followed a lengthy discussion of the peace and democratisation process in Iraq, saying that they were “on the same wavelength”. “Both sides voiced their hopes that the Iraqis will be able to resolve the substantial problems facing them”, said Mr Juncker. “We hope for the reconstruction of Iraq via the active will of the Iraqis”, added Mr Koizumi. Mr Juncker also highlighted “Japan's dynamic role” in the international conference on Iraq to be held in Brussels at the end of June by the EU and the US. Both sides also agreed, in a joint press release, that Russia is “a partner of supreme importance”, but that “its integration into the global economy needs to be stepped up” and “reforms to reinforce the rule of law and respect for human rights must be continued”.
Also discussed was the plank on “promoting peace and international security” of the EU-Japan action plan, and the economic plank. Pointing out that “the figures speak loud and clear about the excellence of our economic relations”, Mr Juncker stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen the plan. “We must make sure that Japan and the EU are attractive markets for each other”, said Mr Koizumi. Hoping to “build more economic partnerships”, the Europeans and the Japanese agreed to establish targeted actions for their next Summit (dialogue on industrial cooperation, intellectual property rights, financial markets, investments and the information society), and welcomed the implementation of the investment framework to boost the growth of direct bilateral investments, stressing the particular importance of dialogue on the reform of the regulatory framework (EUROPE 8906). Both sides also welcomed the launch of negotiations on a Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement and a Customs Cooperation Agreement.
The plank on meeting world sustainable development challenges allowed Mr Barroso to highlight the Commission's commitment to ensuring that negotiations on the Doha Round are a success- (“the EU and Japan are working closely to ensure that the Hong Kong ministerial leads to a balanced result”, said the joint declaration), and the fight against climate change (on which both sides hoped to encourage developing countries to become more involved in the Kyoto process).
The objective of “bringing the people closer together” was a reason for mutual satisfaction: “We have noted the successes brought about by the 2005 joint initiative, the year of exchanges between the people of the EU and of Japan (EUROPE 8873)”, stressed Mr Juncker, adding: “However, we do not want this effort to drop back down to zero at the end of 2005. For our countries to grow closer together is a permanent requirement”. Mr Koizumi also welcomed the success of this initiative, which includes over 1,000 cultural events in Japan and Europe, illustrating the reinforcement of “common values which were already well anchored”.
When asked by the press about the ITER project, Mr Koizumi replied that the issue had been discussed, but there was no answer to give as yet on the choice of a site for the nuclear reactor. “Talks are underway and we hope to find a joint agreement between the six parties to the project”, he said.