Remarks by H.E. Kazuo ASAKAI, Ambassador of Japan
on the occasion of the signing ceremony of the Agreement between Japan and the European Community Concerning Cooperation on Anti-competitive Activities

Brussels, 10 July, 2003

Ambassador VATTANI, Mr. LOWE, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honor and pleasure today to sign the Agreement between Japan and the European Community Concerning Cooperation on Anti-competitive Activities, which marks another significant step forward in the history of joint endeavours between Japan and the European Community.

Japan and the EU designated the period from 2001 to 2010 as "the decade of Japan-EU Cooperation" and, in December 2001, the two sides adopted an "Action Plan". Needless to say, both Japan and the EU have been vigorously implementing this "Action Plan" to broaden and deepen the collaboration between the two sides.

Within this overall framework, cooperation in competition policy is among the areas of highest priority. This is because Japan and the EU find themselves, more than ever, in an increasingly interdependent economic relationship. It is also because they recognize that they share the common responsibility of having their respective economies develop without being impaired by anti-competitive activities.

Today, Japan is pursuing economic revitalization through reforms based on pro-competitive principles. I believe that the Lisbon Process of the EU emphasizes a similar direction of revitalization and reform.

The signing of the Agreement on Cooperation concerning Anti-Competitive Activities is symbolical of the progress of Japan-EU relations in that it is the second bilateral agreement concluded between Japan and the EU, the first one being the Mutual Recognition Agreement of 2001 . It is also a significant step forward in tackling anti-competitive activities internationally because agreements on anti-competitive activities already exist between Japan and the U.S. and between the EU and the U.S. and with this Japan-EU agreement, a network of cooperation will have been completed among Japan, the EU and the U.S, which are three major actors in the area of competition policy.

I am confident that this agreement will make a strong contribution for the further strengthening of relations between Japan and the European Community.

Thank you.

Related Information (Japan-EU Relations)

The Mission of Japan to the European Union Official Web Site