Press Releases
Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono receives a Courtesy Call from the Delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade
On September 19, from 4:05 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call from the delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, headed by its Chair, Mr. Bernd Lange. The summary of the meeting is as follows:
1. At the outset, regarding the signing of the Japan-EU EPA in July this year, Minister Kono stated that he was happy to see it signed during President Tusk and President Juncker’s visit to Japan, after once being postponed. Minister Kono also stated that the Committee on International Trade (INTA) plays a critical role in the European parliament for the EPA’s early entry into force and asked the committee’s support.
2. In response, Chairman Lange stated that the Japan-EU EPA has major strategic significance in addition to its economic importance and that INTA would cooperate as much as possible towards aiming consent early to the Japan-EU EPA and early entry into force of the EPA.
3. In addition, both sides exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest that are conductive to strengthening bilateral economic relations.