Call for EU-Japan ‘economic council’

Preview and reports of the 19th EU-Japan political summit, Tokyo, 28 April 2010.

The EU was represented by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, José Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission and Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President of the European Commission. They met Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Bilateral political and economic relations as well as regional issues and cooperation on the international arena were discussed.

The 2010 summit was significant as it took place after important institutional and political renewal on both sides and served as a launch pad for discussions on future priorities and the framework for EU-Japan relations to succeed the 2001 EU-Japan Joint Action Plan, expiring in 2011.

EurActiv reported that the pan-European business BusinessEurope called for a high-level EU-Japan Economic Partnership Council to replace the ten-year agreement rather than consideration was given to a free trade agreement

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Trade: Trade: Creating opportunities: Bilateral relations: Countries: Japan http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/japan/

European Commission: DG External Relations: The EU and Japan http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/japan/index_en.htm

European Commission: DG External Relations: Japan: EU / Japan Summits http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/japan/summit_en.htm

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