Section 4 Europe

Overview

(The Importance of Europe)

The European Union (EU), composed of 28 member states, is pursuing common policies across a broad spectrum of fields that range from diplomacy to security, economy, and state finance. The EU, among which are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, G7 member states, and other member states of major international frameworks, plays a major role in formulating standards in the international community. In economic terms, the EU accounts for roughly 22% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and has considerable influence on international public opinion due to its languages, history, cultural and artistic activities, and prominent media groups and think tanks, among other things. Although the effects of Brexit, for which negotiations are currently taking place, will need to be continuously monitored, Europe will remain an important region even after the UK withdraws from the EU.

(Issues Faced by Europe)

For Europe, 2017 was a year of rising out of former crises and achieving moderate economic growth, and of making a certain measure of progress towards problems the region faces - progress that included a significant drop in numbers of immigrants and refugees entering the region. At the same time, due to factors such as continued levels of high debt and the unemployment rate in southern European countries, no improvement was made in closing the economic gap between northern and southern Europe. In addition, certain Eastern European countries are reacting against the EU's immigration and refugee policies, while the entire region faces rampant terrorist attacks, cyber attacks, and other such hybrid threats that involve multiple means of attack. The Ukrainian crisis also remains a critical issue for Europe as it has serious implications for Europe's security environment. Furthermore, the UK and the EU have currently been conducting Brexit negotiations. Thus, how to address problems within Europe is an important issue for the EU.

European countries and the EU are therefore stepping up collaborative efforts towards problems concerning immigrants, refugees, terrorism and security including those approached through NATO, while making efforts to maintain and strengthen alliances with the United States. Along with security-related cooperation through efforts that include establishment of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), a defense cooperation framework under the Treaty on European Union, EU member states are having discussions on a new trajectory for European integration to coincide with the 60 year anniversary of the Treaty of Rome¹.

Meanwhile, European countries are facing the rise of populism due to the rise of voters' discontent towards political establishments in the EU and its member states. Populist parties demonstrated a certain level of influence in the national elections held in France, the UK, Germany, and other European countries in 2017, and such impacts on the European situations needs to be continuously monitored.

• 1 Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). These were signed by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany in 1957.

(The Threat of Terrorism)

Frequent indiscriminate terrorist attacks in Europe remain a threat. A terrorist attack in London (UK) in March was followed by an April attack in Stockholm (Sweden), a May attack in Manchester (UK), August attacks in Turku (Finland) and Barcelona (Spain), and another terrorist attack again in London in September, respectively. Consequently, there is a pressing need for EU member states to formulate domestic legislation in accordance with a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating terrorism adopted by the European Parliament on February 16.

(Diplomatic Relations with Europe)

In sharing fundamental values and principles concerning things such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, Japan and Europe are strengthening ties based on a strong commitment to maintaining and bolstering a free and open international order. Japan strengthened cooperation with European countries that have leadership roles in the international community, such as Italy and Germany, the chair countries of G7 and G20 respectively, towards maintaining and advancing a free and open international order at the top level. Prime Minister Abe visited Germany, France, Belgium (EU), and Italy in March, followed by the visits to Russia and the UK in May. Prime Minister Abe had rounds of talks with these G7 members for the G7 Summit in Taormina, Italy, which he attended at the end of May. After that, he visited Malta as the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit there. He also visited Hamburg, Germany to attend the G20 Summit at the beginning of July. On that occasion, he visited Belgium (the EU and NATO), Sweden, Finland, and Denmark as well. These were followed by his visits to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania in January 2018. Foreign Minister Kishida visited France, the Czech Republic, and Ireland at the very beginning of the year, followed by his visits to Bonn, Germany for the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in February, and to Lucca, Italy for the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in April. During these visits, Foreign Minister Kishida also visited Belgium in July and reached an agreement in principle of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). To coincide with the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Kono held the Foreign Ministers' Meeting with the EU and European countries in September. Then in December he visited France to attend the One Planet Summit and the UK to attend the Third Japan-UK Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”).

These quite frequent ministerial-level and top-level mutual visits led to strengthened trust-based relationships between ministers and heads of state, promoted a better understanding among European countries concerning Japan's standpoint and efforts on subjects such as security, economy, regional affairs, and global issues, and saw progress made with specific cooperative initiatives between Japan and Europe. In addition to bilateral cooperation with European countries, Japan has also been working with the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and regional organizations such as the EU, NATO, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to further strengthen collaborative relations between Europe and democratic nations in Asia. At the same time, Japan has been working towards better collaboration with regional frameworks within Europe that include “V4 (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) + Japan,” “NB8 (8 Nordic and Baltic countries) + Japan,” and “GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) + Japan.” Japan also proposed to launch the Japan-Baltic Cooperation Dialogue and the “Western Balkans Cooperation Initiative” as part of efforts to advance comprehensive and multi-tiered relationships with Europe.

In the field of security, for instance, concrete cooperation has been advanced with the UK, France, and Italy. With respect to collaboration with NATO, Secretary General of NATO Stoltenberg visited Japan in October where leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation between Japan and NATO and among Japan, the U.S., and Europe.

Prime Minister Abe shaking hands with Secretary General of NATO Stoltenberg (October 31, Tokyo; Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

In addition to the abovementioned efforts, Japan is actively involved in public diplomacy activities through means that include dispatching experts and promoting the MIRAI Program, a program for personal and intellectual exchange that allows students from Europe and other regions to visit and learn about Japan. Through such efforts, Japan has built myriad channels with European countries and institutions in a broad range of fields from politics to security, economy, education, culture, science, and technology. By providing information about Japan and Asia and promoting mutual understanding through these channels, Japan is working to maintain close, multi-tiered relations with these countries and organizations.