10th Japan-EU High Level Meeting on the Environment

May 24, 2007
Japanese

The gist of the talks is as follows:

1. On the issue of climate change, both Japan and the EU shared the recognition on the necessity of stabilizing the level of greenhouse gases and establishing an effective framework in which major greenhouse-gas-emitting countries participate. Against this common background, both sides also agreed to cooperate in establishing such international framework.

2. On the issue of waste, both Japan and the EU agreed on promoting the 3R Initiative in a cooperative manner to establish an international sound material-cycle society. On the REACH (EU's regulations of chemicals used for products), WEEE/RoHS (EU's regulations of recycling and the limits of toxic materials for electrical and electronic equipment), the EU reconfirmed that it would continue to provide information for those in Japanese industries and others, and give the Japanese side opportunities to submit their opinions concerning the issue. Both sides exchanged views on issues of common concern related to dismantling of end-of-life ships, and transboundary waste movements.

3. On the issue of biodiversity, the EU expressed its welcome for Japan’s attempt to hold the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in Japan in 2010. The EU also requested Japan take up the issue of biodiversity as a prioritized agenda together with that of climate change in the G8 Process which will be hosted by Japan next year. Japan and the EU will collaborate in countering illegal logging, and will also exchange information in the future.

(END)

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