Japan-EU Relations

1. On September 25, commencing at 7:15 p.m. (September 26, 8:15 a.m. JST) for approximately 65 minutes, Mr. ABE Shinzo, Prime Minister of Japan, who was visiting New York to attend the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, hosted a dinner with H.E. Mr. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. The overview of the social dinner is as follows.

2. Prime Minister Abe stated that over the past five years he and President Tusk had been able to build the closest Japan-EU relations ever through the historical achievements of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), and that he would attend the Europa Connectivity Forum held in Brussels on September 27 and intended to show the leadership of Japan and the EU, who have common values, for connectivity between Europe and Asia. In response, President Tusk stated that together with Prime Minister Abe the EU had been able to achieve historical outcomes for Japan-EU relations, and that he was grateful that he had been able to build a strong relationship of trust with Prime Minister Abe.

3. Regarding mutual visits, Prime Minister Abe stated that he would never forget that when he was unable to visit Brussels for the Japan-EU Summit in July last year due to the heavy rain damage in Western Japan, President Tusk and President of the European Commission Juncker rushed to Tokyo to hold the summit. In response, President Tusk stated that the most impressive visit was his visit to Nagasaki and Hiroshima, which left him with the strongest impression of any memory in his life.

4. The two leaders took this opportunity to hold an exchange of views about regional situations, etc., including the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU and the Middle East situation.