There is opportunity for a stronger Japan-EU cooperation

Ukraine today may be the East Asia of tomorrow – the Japan-EU partnership has strategic significance in the unprecedented and severe security situations we face, writes Fumio Kishida.

Fumio Kishida is the Prime Minister of Japan. He submitted the opinion piece ahead of the EU-Japan Summit.

The global landscape has changed dramatically over the past two years. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is not a problem for Europe alone.

It is a problem of nations’ sovereignty stipulated in the United Nations Charter and of the International order by the rule of law.  And the security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific are inseparable.

Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow. I have repeatedly conveyed this message to the international community.

Simultaneously, we face numerous other critical and pressing issues, including climate change, energy and food crisis and the need for economic security. In these unprecedented moments, Japan and the EU must stand together to address such global challenges.

Today’s Japan-EU summit will be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our unity and cooperation.

In the complex and severe international situation, strengthening the Japan-EU relationship in the field of security has strategic significance. In particular, the EU’s increasing engagement in the Indo-Pacific is encouraging. Unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion continue in the region.

We also witness the build-up of nuclear forces in an opaque manner. I am pleased to establish a strategic dialogue between Japan and the EU at the level of foreign ministers.

Japan and the EU share crucial interests in economic resilience and economic security. At the G7 Hiroshima Summit I hosted in May, the first-ever stand-alone G7 Leaders’ Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security was issued.

The European Economic Security Strategy published last month emphasises the importance of international cooperation. I would like to strengthen further our collaboration with the EU in the field of economic security, such as i) addressing non-market policies and practices and economic coercion, ii) strengthening supply chain resilience of critical minerals and other key products, and iii) protecting our critical and emerging technologies.

Needless to say, economic ties between Japan and the EU are strong. Trade value between the EU and Japan has recovered to the pre-COVID level. In this context, it would be highly encouraging for the people in the affected areas if the EU decides to lift its import measures on Japanese food products in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure between Japan and the EU concluded in 2019, was an important milestone in our bilateral economic relationship.

This time, I welcome the recent identification of collaborative projects between Japan and the EU and the publication of the cooperation list. Japan and the EU need to work together to improve connectivity through developing quality infrastructure from the perspective of our engagement with international partners, including the so-called “Global South”.

I would like to continue working with the EU based on this Partnership.

Cooperation between Japan and the EU is not limited to the above. We also launched the Japan-EU Digital Partnership at last year’s summit to advance collaboration on a wide range of digital issues.

And I welcome the Ministerial Meeting held on July 3 under this Digital Partnership and Joint Statement regarding the strategic areas of semiconductors, High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Quantum technology, 5G/Beyond 5G, Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT), digital trade principles and resilient digital connectivity, while also pursuing a constructive dialogue in the areas of platform regulation, data governance, and cybersecurity.

On environment and energy, Japan and the EU share the importance of further collaborating on energy efficiency, hydrogen, battery supply chain and critical minerals, in line with the common goal of achieving net-zero emissions.

Especially as Japan and the EU are in a leading position to advance hydrogen technologies, products and usages, I believe it is important for us to continue to deepen our cooperation and foster a global hydrogen market together.

To this end, we will enhance collaboration on hydrogen businesses, financing and R&D and increase policy dialogue between the Japanese and EU entities to establish a resilient and transparent global supply chain. More recently, we have even extended our cooperation to include satellite data exchange in space.

The Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 was a catastrophe that claimed many victims. In response to this tragic disaster, the government and people of Japan have made steady progress in recovery and reconstruction with the cooperation of the international community.

In order to achieve the reconstruction of the Fukushima and Tohoku region, the discharge of ALPS-treated water into the ocean is also essential.

Japan is working to ensure that there will be no adverse effects on human health and the marine environment, including taking a transparent response based on scientific evidence while receiving the IAEA review supported by the G7.

The IAEA Comprehensive Report released on July 4th concluded that the approach to discharging the ALPS-treated water into the sea and the associated activities are consistent with relevant international safety standards, and the discharge will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.

Japan will continue to work closely with the EU, as an important partner with shared fundamental values, to uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law.

The Japan-EU summit today will be yet another opportunity to bolster our close partnership and expand our fields of cooperation going forward.