Japan-EU Relations
Japan-EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
April 10, 2017
On April 10, from 1 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. (local time) for approximately 80 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, visiting Lucca in Italy to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held a bilateral meeting over lunch with Ms. Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, in the run up to the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1 Opening
(1) Minister Kishida appreciated that strong commitments were expressed by the EU at its Summit Meeting held in Rome in March to continue to maintain the unity of the Union and keep playing a key role in the world. High Representative Mogherini expressed that amid increasing uncertainty, the world needs networks of powerful partnerships, and Japan and the EU should further strengthen their partnership in order to maintain the rule-based international order and trade system.
(2) As the longest-serving members of G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini shared the view that they will work together closely, including at the current G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in order to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order through cooperation among Japan, Europe and the United States.
(2) As the longest-serving members of G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini shared the view that they will work together closely, including at the current G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in order to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order through cooperation among Japan, Europe and the United States.
2 Syria
Given that a large number of innocent citizens became victims of the use of chemical weapons again in Syria, Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini shared the view that the use of such weapons is absolutely unacceptable, and a prompt investigation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is required.
Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini also shared the recognition that maintaining dialogue with Russia, which holds influence over the Assad Administration, is important particularly in critical and difficult circumstances of the present time.
Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini also shared the recognition that maintaining dialogue with Russia, which holds influence over the Assad Administration, is important particularly in critical and difficult circumstances of the present time.
3 Japan-EU relations
(1) Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini shared the view that both sides will make the utmost efforts to reach an agreement on fundamental elements of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) as early as possible.
(2) Minister Kishida once again requested that the negotiations on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU be carried out in a way to minimize its impact on the economy, including Japanese businesses in Europe. He also expressed expectation that the EU and the UK will continue to collaborate closely on the political and security dimensions. High Representative Mogherini explained that the leaders of 27 EU M ember States will agree on a guideline for the negotiations with the UK on April 29, and intend to set a course toward an orderly withdrawal. She also said that the 27 M ember States will build a different but close relationship with the UK while maintaining the EU’s unity. Furthermore, she stated that the EU will ensure transparency of the negotiations, and the two sides confirmed that they will continue to communicate closely.
(3) Both Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini shared the view that the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and the EU Global Strategy share the same direction, and they will coordinate and cooperate for the implementation of the EU’s maritime capacity building support in Southeast Asia, as well as strengthening connectivity between Asia and Europe.
(2) Minister Kishida once again requested that the negotiations on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU be carried out in a way to minimize its impact on the economy, including Japanese businesses in Europe. He also expressed expectation that the EU and the UK will continue to collaborate closely on the political and security dimensions. High Representative Mogherini explained that the leaders of 27 EU M ember States will agree on a guideline for the negotiations with the UK on April 29, and intend to set a course toward an orderly withdrawal. She also said that the 27 M ember States will build a different but close relationship with the UK while maintaining the EU’s unity. Furthermore, she stated that the EU will ensure transparency of the negotiations, and the two sides confirmed that they will continue to communicate closely.
(3) Both Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini shared the view that the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and the EU Global Strategy share the same direction, and they will coordinate and cooperate for the implementation of the EU’s maritime capacity building support in Southeast Asia, as well as strengthening connectivity between Asia and Europe.
4 Regional affairs
Minister Kishida and High Representative Mogherini also exchanged views on the issues such as situations in East Asia including North Korea, Europe and the Middle East.