[Title] Joint Press Statement, 16th Japan-EU Summit
1. Dr. Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany, in her capacity as President of the European Council, assisted by High Representative Dr. Javier Solana, and Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, met in Berlin on 5 June for the 16th Summit between the European Union (EU) and Japan.
2. Summit leaders reaffirmed their desire to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the EU and Japan. The EU and Japan share fundamental values such as democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and a market-based economy. Summit leaders are united in their commitment to contribute to the resolution of global challenges including global climate change and the question of energy security.
In this context, they noted further significant progress in implementing the Action Plan on EU-Japan Cooperation, adopted in 2001, and set priority actions to be taken by the time of the next EU-Japan-summit (see Annex).
International and global issues
3. On climate change, the EU and Japan reached common understanding that, in order to stabilise the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, an urgent and strong action is needed.
In the light of this, the EU and Japan are committed to take strong leadership towards the development of a fair, flexible, effective and comprehensive UN post-2012 framework that ensures the participation of all major emitting countries. The UN climate change conference in Bali at the end of 2007 has crucial importance in this regard. Negotiations for a post-2012 framework should be completed as early as possible to avoid a gap after 2012.
Summit leaders are united in the view that a long-term goal for reducing global GHG emission by half or more by the year 2050 needs to be established. They acknowledge the continuing leadership role that developed economies have to play in tackling climate change.
They recognise, however, that the efforts of developed countries will not be sufficient and that new approaches for fair contributions by other countries are needed.
In order to facilitate the negotiations and completion of a comprehensive agreement, the EU and Japan share the view that the G8 process including the Gleneagles dialogue, and other fora, provide valuable platforms to constructively engage with key energy consuming and greenhouse gas emitting countries with a view to support UN negotiations for a comprehensive framework agreement. In this regard Summit leaders recognise the importance of the development and transfer of technologies to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, use of market based instruments such as emissions trading, performance-based regulation and consumer labelling, appropriate adaptation measures to tackle inevitable effects of climate change and addressing the reduction of emissions from deforestation in developing countries. The EU and Japan will step up cooperation on climate change research and related observation activities such as Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to support effective planning of adaptation measures.
The EU and Japan highlighted their shared interests and acknowledged the commonalities in the new EU Energy Strategy Policy and Japan's New National Energy Strategy, and will strengthen cooperation for energy security in the following key areas: increasing transparency, predictability, and stability of global markets; improving the investment climate in the energy sectors; enhancing energy efficiency and energy saving; diversifying energy mix; ensuring physical security of critical energy infrastructure; reducing energy poverty; addressing climate change and sustainable development; increased use of non fossil fuels and low-carbon technologies including clean coal technology, renewable energy resources (e.g. solar energy, wind power, bio-fuels); the use of nuclear energy for those who decide to use this option. A new international strategy on energy efficiency will be developed in close cooperation with the IEA. The EU and Japan will continue further discussions, and look forward to the success at the forthcoming Heiligendamm G8 Summit meeting, in order to intensify their cooperation in the field of climate change and energy, in the run-up to the UN international climate conference and to Japan's Presidency of the G8.
4. On the emerging regional architecture in East Asia, the EU welcomed efforts to strengthen open and transparent regional cooperation in East Asia based upon universally recognised values and global rules, and expressed appreciation of Japan's constructive and active role in this respect. Japan welcomed the EU's constructive contributions to the regional political architecture in Asia-Pacific through the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, the enhancement of EU-ASEAN relations and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process. Japan welcomed the EU's interest in being engaged in the East Asia Summit process and its intention to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). Both sides stressed the importance of continuing the EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue on this region.
5. The EU noted with appreciation the strengthening and deepening of Japan-China relations. Summit leaders welcomed China's economic development under its reform policy of opening up to the international community and stressed the importance of having China as a responsible and constructive partner in the international community. Japan reiterated its opposition to a lifting of the EU's arms embargo on China.
6. The EU and Japan reaffirmed their strong commitment to the goal of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and emphasised that - as a first step - the agreement reached at the Six Party Talks on 13 February 2007, and the UN Security Council Resolution 1718 should be expeditiously implemented. The leaders also expressed their continued and very serious concern about the situation of human rights in the DPRK. The EU confirmed its strong support for all efforts intended to lead to the earliest possible settlement of the abductions issue.
7. Recognising the importance of the steady implementation of the Afghanistan Compact, the EU and Japan will continue their close and effective cooperation on assistance to Afghanistan in the field of rural development, police and judicial reforms and Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG). Japan welcomed the beginning of an European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) Police Mission in Afghanistan. Japan indicated its willingness to contribute to the strengthening of the police sector reform, in close cooperation with the ESDP mission.
8. The Leaders underlined the usefulness of the EU-Japan strategic dialogue on Central Asia and the significance of their close coordination. The EU and Japan are convinced that transparency, regional cooperation and donor coordination are crucial to jointly foster stability and prosperity in Central Asia. Border management, water management, health, human resources development including education, human rights, democracy and the rule of law are areas of particular mutual interest. Due account should also be taken of areas in which the Central Asian states themselves have expressed a particular wish for enhanced cooperation.
9. On the Middle East, the EU and Japan reiterated their commitment to further strengthening their efforts in tackling challenges such as in Iraq, Iran and the Middle East Peace Process. Both sides reaffirmed their willingness to continue their close cooperation to this end. With respect to Iran, the EU and Japan expressed their serious concern at the Iranian nuclear programme. The Leaders regretted Iran's failure to take the steps required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors and the UN Security Council, reaffirmed the importance of reaching a peaceful solution to this situation and urged Iran to suspend its enrichment programme to allow for negotiations and to fully cooperate in this regard with the IAEA. Both sides decided to continue closely exchanging views on this matter.
10. Summit leaders underlined the importance of implementing the on-going reform process adopted at the UN Summit in 2005, including the reform of the main UN bodies, as referred to in the outcome document, in order to address various challenges that the international community faces. Summit leaders also underscored the importance of further cooperation in the work of the Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission.
11. The EU strongly welcomed Japan's accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court expected this year.
12. Summit leaders underlined the importance for the EU and Japan to strengthen cooperation on poverty reduction through sustainable development and the promotion of human security. Recalling the strategic commitments made at Gleneagles to support African nations to make progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and pointing out the focus on Africa at this year's Group of 8 (G8) Summit in Heiligendamm, they recognised the importance to better co-ordinate positions on key development challenges as well as on political and security issues of the African agenda and set out to cooperate closely in preparation of the fourth Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD IV) and Japan's G8 Presidency. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and determined to launch a dialogue at senior official level on development issues. The leaders underlined the important positive role played by regional organisations in ensuring stability and sustainable development.
13. On the World Trade Organization (WTO), Summit leaders stressed the paramount importance of a successful and prompt conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). They will continue to cooperate closely in order to reach an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive agreement. They called on all WTO members to contribute in order to achieve such an agreement.
EU-Japan relations
14. The EU and Japan sharing universal values and similar strategies to move towards a knowledge-based society, stressed the importance of promoting innovation which will enable them to (a) lead the world economy by technological competitiveness, (b) make contribution to tackling common global challenges such as climate change, environment and energy, and (c) bring prosperity to their peoples and beyond. Summit leaders adopted the annexed paper "Promoting Research and Innovation towards Prosperity", in order to identify the realms in which both parties can further strengthen cooperation in this field. The leaders decided to quickly intensify EU-Japan Science & Technology cooperation to ensure mutual sustainable prosperity and further deepen their global relationships and looked forward to a forthcoming initialling of the Science and Technology Agreement in the near future. The bilateral Agreement on Cooperation concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy which entered into force in December 2006 also reflects their commitment to non-proliferation and to a high-level of nuclear safety and security. Summit leaders also noted the positive cooperation on the ITER project and the Broader Approach activities towards the realisation of fusion energy.
15. The leaders affirmed the vital importance of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) as a driving force of today's flourishing knowledge-based societies. They adopted the EU-Japan Action Plan on IPR Protection and Enforcement, which is annexed to this document, to strengthen the cooperation between Japan and the EU in this area.
16. Summit leaders appreciated the well-functioning and the progress achieved in a number of bilateral dialogues under overall supervision of the High-Level Consultations, in particular the Regulatory Reform Dialogue. They welcomed the new high-level dialogue on trade issues launched in April and the Industrial Policy and Industrial Cooperation Dialogue, which confirmed the need of a close cooperation between two major economies facing similar competitiveness challenges. Summit leaders welcomed the on-going dialogues and efforts that address issues of accounting and auditing and aim to find a satisfactory solution on equivalence between Japanese and EU-adopted rules and standards. They also welcomed the initialling of the EC-Japan Agreement on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.
17. The EU and Japan appreciate the joint input from the business communities, via the Business Dialogue Roundtable (BDRT) and they reaffirmed the value of responding to the recommendations of the BDRT. Summit leaders welcome the handover of the business recommendations adopted in Berlin on 4 June. The EU and Japan celebrated the 20th anniversary of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and expect it to take an even more active role in the next decade.
18. Both sides stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of civil aviation. The EU emphasised the importance of ensuring legal certainty of existing bilateral air services agreements between the EU Member States and Japan. Japan stated that the issues of air services agreements between Japan and EU Member States should be discussed between the parties to respective agreements.
19. The EU and Japan recognise the importance of academic cooperation and exchanges as means to promote mutual understanding, innovation and quality of education. The EU and Japan will build on the experience of the pilot projects in this field and further enhance cooperation in higher education between the EU and Japan. They will also explore the possibility of organising an ad hoc seminar on educational policy issues of mutual interest.
20. Summit leaders welcomed the launch of preliminary, informal discussions on cooperation between the EU and Japan in the area of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
Annex
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EU-JAPAN ACTION PLAN: Priority Actions to be taken by the next EU-Japan Summit
Objective 1: Promoting Peace and Security
Continue wide-ranging policy discussions on international and regional issues, in particular by pursuing the strategic dialogue on East Asia's security environment and on Central Asia.
Continue efforts to promote effective multilateralism as a means of tackling global challenges and reaffirm the vital role of the UN in this regard. Work together to provide multilateral solutions in the areas of development, peace and security, human rights and the rule of law as well as to strengthen the main UN bodies, as stated in the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document.
Pursue dialogue on Human Security, focusing on its concrete implementation in a wide range of issues to restore the livelihoods of people exposed to challenges such as poverty, infectious diseases, post-conflict reconstruction, humanitarian de-mining, fight against the illicit spread of small arms and light weapons, environmental degradation and deforestation, adaptation to climate change, etc.
Objective 2: Strengthening the Economic and Trade Partnership by Utilising the Dynamism of Globalisation for the Benefit of All
Reinforce joint efforts to ensure a successful conclusion of the DDA negotiations.
Enhance various dialogues under overall supervision of the High Level Consultations.
Continue using the EU-Japan Regulatory Reform Dialogue (RRD) to achieve mutually beneficial results on outstanding regulatory issues.
Build on the first meeting of the high level trade dialogue, held in Tokyo on 16 April.
Conclude the Agreement on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance and commence its implementation.
Building on the Joint Statement on Cooperation on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), foster cooperation on ICT research; reinforce regulatory and policy exchanges on areas of mutual interest (regulating in a convergent environment; challenges of Next Generation Networks deployment; Radio Frequency Identification (RFID); Open Source Software; developing safer and securer environments for ICT usages.
Continue cooperation in the area of financial services regulation, including at forthcoming senior level contacts, with an emphasis on meeting the 2009 target for equivalence on accounting and auditing rules and standards.
Continue cooperation under the new EU-Japan Action Plan on IPR Protection and Enforcement.
Continue EU-Japan macro-economic dialogue.
Objective 3: Coping with Global and Societal Challenges
Conclude and implement the EC-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology.
Implement the ITER project in accordance with the ITER Agreement as soon as it enters into force. Implement the Broader Approach activities in accordance with the Broader Approach Agreement which entered into force on 1 June 2007.
Hold a regular High Level Meeting on the Environment and conduct ad-hoc consultations at every opportunity, and intensify EU-Japan cooperation towards the establishment of an effective post-2012 framework in the field of climate change.
Continue consultations on energy efficiency, sustainability and security through the newly-launched expert dialogue on energy.
Develop new international strategy on energy efficiency with close cooperation with the IEA.
Continue to take the lead in the development of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), especially toward the success of the Fourth Earth Observation Ministerial Summit in Capetown, South Africa on 30 November 2007.
Continue and enhance ongoing dialogue on development policy and cooperation.
Pursue dialogue on issues of mutual interest regarding maritime transport policy and maritime safety.
Continue cooperation in the area of employment and hold a joint tripartite symposium on the diversification of forms of work and employment in Tokyo at the beginning of 2008.
Objective 4: Bringing Together People and Cultures
Further build on the success of the 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges by reviewing the possibility to enhance exchange programmes, particularly in the field of higher education.
Build on the experience of the pilot projects in the field of higher education and further enhance cooperation in this field between the EU and Japan. Explore the possibility of organising an ad hoc seminar on educational policy issues of mutual interest.