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  • Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting
  • Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting

May 2020

Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting

Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting

On May 26, 2020, Mr. Abe Shinzo, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting with H. E. Mr. Charles Michel, President of the European Council and H. E. Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

This meeting marked the first talk to be held among the three leaders since the formation of new EU leadership in December last year. The exchange of opinions that followed focused on countermeasures against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including economic measures aimed at recovery, while the leaders affirmed the collaboration between Japan and the EU. The overview of the talk is as follows.

The three leaders asserted Japan and the EU would cooperate closely as strategic partners with shared fundamental values and adopt even greater roles and responsibilities to measures against COVID-19 infection.

The EU stated that Europe would endeavor to implement economic measures following its Roadmap for Recovery in order to reliably achieve economic recovery. Prime Minister Abe responded by firstly explaining Japan’s economic measures, then expressed the increased importance of constructing and expanding a highly secure and reliable telecommunications infrastructure from the perspective of maintaining economic activity during the current global crisis. He also added that, for reasons of guaranteeing security, it was essential to manage appropriately the construction of a resilient supply chain and direct investment by foreigners, as well as continuing to make progress in fields such as digital transformation of the economy including 5G and beyond 5G research and development, while maintaining cooperation between Japan and the EU.

With regard to Japan-EU Relations, Prime Minister Abe conveyed his support for the strong and united EU as strategic partners with shared fundamental values. And he also expressed the effective application of Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would prove even more important in ensuring steadfast economic recovery of both sides following the COVID-19 crisis, as well as his determination to develop greater cooperation under Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), such as sustainable connectivity, quality infrastructure, and global issues. The EU stated that the Japan-EU relationship is closer than ever based on EPA and SPA, and bilateral cooperation should be deepened in the wide fields including green deal and digital which the EU emphasizes. The three leaders shared the view to arrange to convene at the next Japan-EU Summit once the COVID-19 situation has been resolved.

Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting

 

FOR INFORMATION

For information for foreign nationals regarding Japan’s measures against COVID-19 infection, please visit “Coronavirus related information” in A Daily Life Support Portal for Foreign Nationals on the Ministry of Justice website at https://www.moj.go.jp/EN/
The Japan National Tourism Organization also provides advisory information to people from overseas on its website at www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/