Section 5 Europe

1 Overview

<The Importance of Cooperation with Europe, with which Japan Shares Fundamental Values and Principles>

The European Union (EU) and European countries are important partners for Japan, and share fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. Amidst the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), cooperation with a unified EU is necessary to respond to the challenges faced by the international community and to realize fundamental values in the international community.

European countries pursue common policies across a wide range of fields such as diplomacy and security, economy, and state finance, through various frameworks including the EU. They also play an important role in formulating standards in the international community utilizing international frameworks. The countries also influence international opinion benefiting from their language, history, cultural and artistic activities, and through communication activities utilizing major media organizations and think tanks. Cooperation with Europe is important in enhancing Japan's presence and influence in the international community.

<Response to COVID-19 in Europe>

COVID-19 has been rapidly spreading in Europe since March 2020. This has made responding to COVID-19 the biggest challenge for European countries and the new EU leadership inaugurated in December 2019.

Since March 2020, European countries implemented strict national restrictions, including lockdowns. Within Europe, there were moves by Schengen States to introduce border control measures within the Schengen Area, in which national borders have been abolished based on the Schengen Agreement, which ensures freedom of movement between European countries. However in May, the EU called for the gradual lift of measures at EU internal borders and member states responded to ensure freedom of movement within the area once again. In regard to measures at the EU external borders, the EU issued guidelines on border measures in March while emphasizing cooperation within the area. Based on these recommendations, EU member states and Schengen-associated countries implemented restrictions on entry from outside the area, which were gradually eased starting in July.

Since autumn of the year, there was a resurgence in the spread of COVID-19 infections with the number of new cases exceeding the first wave. In response to this, European countries have reintroduced strict national restrictions. In December, a new variant of COVID-19 was identified in the UK, and some countries reintroduced national entry restrictions. As being illustrated, Europe faces the difficulty of balancing freedom of movement and economic activity with preventing the spread of infections.

In the series of responses to COVID-19, the EU was pointed out to be slow to take initial response. Indeed, there was a gap in opinions about how to provide assistance to member states, making it a challenge for the EU to strengthen European unity through specific measures. On the other hand, the EU has been providing support to non-EU countries as international cooperation in response to COVID-19 since April, and hosted a pledging conference in May. In July, the EU leaders led by France and Germany demonstrated European unity by agreeing on the recovery plan for Europe, a recovery instrument and the next seven-year budget of the EU, toward Europe's economic recovery. In regard to vaccines, the EU negotiated with several pharmaceutical companies on behalf of the member states. As a result, the vaccines secured by the EU began to be administered in member states in late December.

<Brexit and Negotiations on Future Relations>

Along with the response to COVID-19, Brexit and the subsequent negotiations on the future relations between the EU and the UK were one of the largest pending issues for Europe. The UK left the EU on January 31, 2020, and a transition period began in February 2020 during which EU law continued to apply to the UK after Brexit. The transition period's deadline was the end of 2020, and in June, both the EU and the UK confirmed that it would not be extended. Negotiations on the future relations between the EU and the UK began in March. However, difficulties were encountered in the negotiations over a level playing field, governance (dispute resolution), and the fishing industry. In December, the EU and UK leaders held successive in-person meetings and telephone calls. The conclusion of the negotiations was announced on December 24, just before the deadline for the transition period. Although the deliberations in the European Parliament were postponed until 2021, it was decided that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement would be provisionally applied from January 1, 2021, following the procedures of both the EU and the UK.

<Relations with Countries and Regions Outside Europe>

In regard to relations with countries and regions outside Europe, relations with Russia continue to be a priority issue for Europe, as they have implications for Europe's security environment, including the response to the situation surrounding Ukraine, the arms control system, and cyber. Although China has provided support and publicity to Europe regarding COVID-19, a sense of vigilance against China is growing due to matters such as the situation concerning Hong Kong and human rights issues. In her State of the Union Address in September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the EU's relationship with China as simultaneously one of the most strategically important and one of the most challenging. There is also growing concern in Europe about disinformation.

During the Meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ministers of Foreign Affairs in December, there was discussion on the changing global balance of power, including the situation in Asia, and the need for like-minded democratic nations to protect common values and to cooperate was emphasized.

In regard to relations with the U.S., European countries welcomed the election of President-elect Biden. In December, the European Commission released “A new EU-US agenda for global change,” expressing hope for stronger U.S.-European relations in a wide range of areas, including climate change, economy, digital and trade. In neighboring areas of Europe, focus was on ensuring the unity of Europe in the field of diplomacy related to the situation concerning Belarus after the presidential election and Turkey with regard to its actions in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Lastly, in the Indo-Pacific region, interest in the Indo-Pacific within the EU is growing, including the release of policy papers concerning the region by Germany and the Netherlands respectively in September and November.

<Multilayered, Attentive Diplomacy with Europe>

In Europe, the spread of COVID-19 has raised awareness of the importance of fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. However, there have been differences in the views of countries on matters such as the recovery instrument, the rule of law, and relations with countries outside the region. While Europe has become a “mosaic” in terms of which policy to take in the field of security, free trade, and relations with non-European countries, Japan supports a strongly united Europe and conducts multilayered, attentive diplomacy with them. In 2020, despite limitations on in-person visits by dignitaries due to COVID-19, diplomacy using teleconference meetings and telephone calls was actively developed.

In regard to bilateral relations with European countries, high-level dialogues were held to confirm matters including cooperation on responding to COVID-19. With the UK, Prime Minister Abe held a summit telephone call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in March. Foreign Minister Motegi visited the UK in August as a first foreign visit since the spread of COVID-19, and held various meetings including Japan-UK Foreign Ministers' Meeting. For France, Prime Minister Abe held a summit telephone call with President Emmanuel Macron in March. From September to October, Foreign Minister Motegi visited France following Portugal, and held a Foreign Ministers' Meeting and other meetings. With Germany, Prime Minister Abe held a teleconference meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel in July. Since his inauguration in September, Prime Minister Suga has held summit telephone calls with the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and more to exchange views on responding to COVID-19 and on a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP).

In the context of Japan-EU relations, close cooperation is conducted based on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which entered into force in February 2019, and the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), of which the provisional application started at the same time. In May, Prime Minister Abe held a Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting with President von der Leyen of the European Commission and President Charles Michel of the European Council to confirm Japan-EU cooperation on COVID-19 countermeasures and other issues. Prime Minister Suga held telephone calls with each of the two EU leaders after his inauguration in September. In addition to close cooperation on the situation in East Asia, the three leaders confirmed cooperation for the further development of Japan-EU relations in a wide range of areas, including digital, environment and climate change. Concerning relations with NATO, the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme Between Japan and NATO was revised in June. At the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in December, Japan made a statement by Foreign Minister Motegi read out through the Ambassador of Japan to NATO, stating that NATO is a reassuring partner for the severe security environment in East Asia and FOIP, which is promoted by Japan.

Japan-EU Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting
(May 26, Tokyo; Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

Regarding the regions of the Visegrad Group (V4), the Baltic States, and the Western Balkans, multilayered diplomacy was implemented with promotion of cooperation through bilateral relations and the EU as well as promotion of cooperative relations through dialogue with Japan.

Furthermore, Japan conducts public diplomacy activities including dispatching experts, cooperation with European think tanks and Japan's Friendship Ties Programs “MIRAI” for intellectual and people-to-people exchange that allows young people from Europe to visit Japan. These activities are aimed to promote the right picture of Japan and Asia and mutual understanding. Particularly by utilizing online exchanges, Japan is working on strengthening relations with Europe by conducting information-sharing and exchanges of views with European countries, organizations, and experts in a wide range of fields such as politics, security, economy, business, science and technology, education, culture and art.