Press Releases
Meeting between Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. Miki Yamada and European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Phil Hogan
On April 21, commencing at 15 past 3 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Ms. Miki Yamada, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs held a meeting with Mr. Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, who is visiting Japan, and exchanged views on issues of common interest such as strengthening Japan-EU economic ties, with particular reference to the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The meeting summary is as follow:
1. At the beginning, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yamada welcomed Mr. Hogan’s visit to Japan, and stated that the Government of Japan intends to achieve agreement in principle on the Japan-EU EPA at the earliest possible time in 2016.
2. In response, Mr. Hogan stated that the Japan-EU EPA is one of the most important trade negotiations for the EU and that he would like to work together towards early conclusion of the EPA negotiations.
3. In addition, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yamada and Mr. Hogan exchanged views on a variety of other bilateral and WTO issues.