FY2007 Japan-EU Regulatory Reform Dialogue Tokyo Meeting

December 4, 2007

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold a FY2007 Japan-EU (European Union) Regulatory Reform Dialogue Tokyo Meeting on December 18(Tue) in Tokyo (at Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The Meeting will be co-chaired by Mr. Yoichi Otabe, Director General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs , who leads the Japanese delegation consisting of officials from ministries and agencies concerned, and by Mr. Karel Kovanda, Deputy Director General, External Relations Directorate General, European Commission, who leads the EU delegation consisting of representatives of the related departments of the Commission.
The meeting will discuss regulatory reforms and cooperation between Japan and the EU, with a view to improving the business environment including investment relations so that Japan and the EU will flourish with strengthened economic ties.
This will be the 14th dialogue since it started in 1994. At the Tokyo Meeting in 2007, there will be discussions on EU Proposals for Regulatory Reform in Japan in such fields as investment, government procurement, information and communications technology, financial services, transport, healthcare and cosmetics, food safety and agricultural products. The meeting will also discuss Japan’s proposals to the EU, focusing upon its priority areas, where the Government of Japan requests further efforts by the EU. At the Brussels Meeting to be held around March 2008, discussions will be centered on Japan’s Proposals for Regulatory Reform in the EU.

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