[Title] Joint Statement on Cooperation on Information and Communication Technology

Recalling that Japan and the European Union have cooperated in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in accordance with the EU-Japan Action Plan, they confirmed their intention to further endeavor to make greater use of ICT in the following areas in particular: enhancing the quality and convenience of ICT for citizens; creating an inclusive Information Society for All and stimulating competitiveness, innovation and an efficient use of ICT; making the Internet more secure; and developing the world-wide ICT environment.

Japan and the EU also recognized the need to further address certain challenges such as structural reforms, competitiveness, economic revitalisation and creation of added value through their respective measures under the "e-Japan Strategy" and "e-Europe."

On this basis, they will work together to strengthen their dialogue and bilateral cooperation as specified below.

1. Enhancing the Quality and Convenience of ICT for Citizens

- Japan and the EU will exchange best practices as regards making administrative procedures and public services available on line and will collaborate closely towards international standardisation in the field of electronic procedures for government procurement.

- They will exchange information on ways to promote the use of ICT in areas directly relevant to citizens, such as education, medical services, care of the elderly as well as household appliances.

2. Creating an inclusive Information Society for All and Stimulating Competitiveness, Innovation and an Efficient Use of ICT

- Japan and the EU will exchange views on research, development and adoption of the most advanced ICT to realise a Ubiquitous Network Society and an Information Society for All, where every citizen can access knowledge and information without restriction of time, place and means.

- They will share their experience in promoting the diffusion and an efficient use of ICT by companies, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

- They will exchange views on public policies which have successfully stimulated the competitiveness of the ICT industry.

- They will further explore the potential of Open Source Software, and in particular its capacity to encourage technological innovation and to benefit consumers through the increase of competition in the software market, and as regards its impact on the structure and dynamics of the ICT industry.

- They will promote the distribution of digital content through well-established broadband networks, taking into account the importance of appropriate protection of intellectual property rights of the distributed digital content and the fight against piracy.

3. Making the Internet More Secure

- Japan and the EU will share their perspectives and policy thinking to ensure the security of information systems and networks and the safety of Internet users.

- They will cooperate, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to fight against spam, which has a negative impact on consumer trust and business activities, and will share information on their measures to counter spam.

4. Developing the World-Wide ICT Environment

- Japan and the EU will work together for the success of the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005, in particular on translating the principles agreed at the Geneva Summit in 2003 into concrete actions and implementing the action plan agreed in Geneva. They shared the view that the discussions on principles agreed there should not be reopened.