Section 4 Europe

Overview

(Importance of Europe)

Europe has considerable influence on international public opinion, underpinned by such factors as language, culture and art, and the presence of major media and think tanks. In addition, Europe has a large economic presence, with the combined GDP of the 28 member states of the European Union (EU) accounting for about 24% of the world. As members of key international frameworks, such as the UN Security Council and G7, major European countries play an important role in establishing norms in the international community. Furthermore, Japan and Europe share fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and are deeply committed to free and open international order. Both parties have collaborated with each other based on the mutual relations with the United States for many years.

Europe is critical for Japan’s implementation of foreign policy that “Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map.” In addition to maintaining bilateral relations with each European country, it is important that Japan further broadens Japan-Europe relations as a whole by strengthening cooperation with European regional institutions such as the EU, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and promoting collaboration with European regional frameworks, such as the Visegrad Group plus Japan (V4+Japan), the Nordic-Baltic Eight plus Japan (NB8+Japan) and GUAM countries plus Japan (GUAM + Japan).

(Issues Faced by Europe)

Europe is faced with various challenges, including instability in the Middle East and North Africa, unprecedented influx of refugees and migrants into Europe associated with it, a series of terrorist attacks in Paris and other cities, the Greece debt issue, the EU referendum in the UK, and other problems that have emerged as a result of enlargement and deepening integration of the EU.

(Diplomatic Relations with Europe)

Prime Minister Abe visited Elmau, Germany, in June, to attend the G7 Summit to have talks with other leaders. Also, taking the opportunity, he visited Ukraine for the first time as a Japanese Prime Minister. Following the attendance of the 21^st United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) Summit Meeting in Paris, France, in November and December, Prime Minister Abe visited Luxembourg for the first time as a Japanese Prime Minister in the context of the bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Kishida visited France, Belgium and the UK in mid-January to have meetings with the foreign ministers of those countries. He also held Japan-EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and met with the NATO Secretary General. In November, the Foreign Minister visited Luxembourg to attend the 12^th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. As shown in these examples, mutual visits at the leader’s and foreign minister’s levels took place very actively between Japan and European countries and institutions. These visits not only strengthened the relations between Japan and each country and institution, but also built relationships of trust at the summit and foreign minister’s level. Through these opportunities, understanding from European countries and institutions on Japan’s stance and efforts was enhanced on a broad range of issues, including security, economic, and global issues, and concrete cooperation between Japan and Europe was advanced. For instance, on the security front, Japan agreed with NATO and the EU respectively, to continue close cooperation. Also, Japan has strengthened cooperation in the area of security and defense with the UK and France. With regard to economy, six rounds of negotiations on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) were held in 2015. At the Japan-EU summit meeting, which was held on the occasion of the G20 Antalya Summit in November 2015, the two leaders committed to accelerating the negotiations, aiming to reach agreement in principle at the earliest possible time in 2016. At the Summit meeting, the leaders have agreed to cooperate further and work on a range of issues Europe is facing right now, including counter-terrorism and the influx of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa, which pose problems for the entire global community.

In addition, the Government of Japan launched the “MIRAI Program,” to invite students from countries throughout Europe. Japan is pursuing a broad range of cooperative activities with the EU and countries throughout Europe in such fields as education, culture, as well as science and technology with a view to maintaining a multi-layered and close relationship through communication of Japan’s attractiveness and promotion of mutual understanding.