Japan-EU Relations
Japan-EU Dialogue on Oceans and Fisheries
On June 23 and 24, the Japan-EU Dialogue on Oceans and Fisheries was held via videoconference. This round of dialogue expanded the scope of the formerly held Japan-EU Dialogue on Fisheries to cover oceans as a whole. From the Japanese side, Mr. HANADA Takahiro, Deputy Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. FUKUDA Takumi, Councillor, Resource Management Department, Fisheries Agency, and officials from National Ocean Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office, attended; and from the EU side, Ms. Charlina VITCHEVA, Director-General, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) of the European Commission, Mr. Fernando ANDRESEN GUIMARAES, Director, Directorate B, International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries, DG MARE, attended. In addition, other relevant officials from both sides attended. The overview is as follows:
- Both sides welcomed that this dialogue served as a forum to exchange views on ocean-related matters in general in addition to fisheries issues and confirmed that they will further strengthen dialogue between Japan and the EU toward the realization of sustainable oceans and fisheries, as strategic partners that maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law and address global challenges together.
- The two sides reviewed progress in international cooperation and exchanged views on the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, polar issues, and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), among others.
- Regarding measures to combat IUU fishing, both sides confirmed that Japan and the EU will cooperate proactively, focusing on multilateral frameworks such as the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA), the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, and RFMOs.
- Through this Dialogue, the two sides deepened their common understanding in the fields of oceans and fisheries between Japan and the EU and concurred on their intention to further strengthen their existing cooperative relationship.