Press Releases

On May 24, commencing at 4 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan held a telephone talk with Dr. Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade, to discuss the negotiations on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The overview is as follows.

1. Minister Kishida and Commissioner Malmström reaffirmed that the Japan-EU EPA is the most important agenda in the relationship between Japan and the EU, and, in order for Japan and the EU to lead the world by keeping high the flag of free trade against the growing protectionist movement, it is extremely important that they reach an agreement on fundamental elements of the Japan-EU EPA negotiations as early as possible.
2. They took stock of the progress of the negotiations since the previous meeting in Bonn, Germany in February, and shared the view that Japan and the EU should concentrate on the remaining issues hereafter and make utmost efforts to realize an agreement on fundamental elements of the negotiations.
3. Minister Kishida and Commissioner Malmström also agreed that they continue to directly touch with each other as necessary.