Press Release: EU and Japan to discuss climate change, economic crisis and other global challenges

Summit talks between the European Union (EU) and Japan will be held in Prague on 4 May 2009. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will together with Czech President Václav Klaus represent the EU. They will be joined by the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. Prime Minister Taro Aso will represent Japan. The main focus will be strengthening cooperation on key global challenges such as climate change and the financial and economic crisis. The summit leaders will also review progress on bilateral issues since the last EU-Japan, in areas such as science and technology, aviation, financial services, judicial cooperation and development policy cooperation. As regards the EU-Japan relationship, preparations will begin for the launch at next year's summit of talks on a new framework to replace the 2001 EU-Japan Action Plan.