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Annex

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EU-JAPAN ACTION PLAN:
Priority Actions to be taken by the next EU-Japan Summit

Objective 1: Promoting Peace and Security

  • Continue wide-ranging policy discussions on international and regional issues, in particular by pursuing the strategic dialogue on East Asia's security environment and on Central Asia.
  • Continue efforts to promote effective multilateralism as a means of tackling global challenges and reaffirm the vital role of the UN in this regard. Work together to provide multilateral solutions in the areas of development, peace and security, human rights and the rule of law as well as to strengthen the main UN bodies, as stated in the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document.
  • Pursue dialogue on Human Security, focusing on its concrete implementation in a wide range of issues to restore the livelihoods of people exposed to challenges such as poverty, infectious diseases, post-conflict reconstruction, humanitarian de-mining, fight against the illicit spread of small arms and light weapons, environmental degradation and deforestation, adaptation to climate change, etc.

Objective 2: Strengthening the Economic and Trade Partnership by Utilising the Dynamism of Globalisation for the Benefit of All

  • Reinforce joint efforts to ensure a successful conclusion of the DDA negotiations.
  • Enhance various dialogues under overall supervision of the High Level Consultations.
  • Continue using the EU-Japan Regulatory Reform Dialogue (RRD) to achieve mutually beneficial results on outstanding regulatory issues.
  • Build on the first meeting of the high level trade dialogue, held in Tokyo on 16 April.
  • Conclude the Agreement on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance and commence its implementation.
  • Building on the Joint Statement on Cooperation on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), foster cooperation on ICT research; reinforce regulatory and policy exchanges on areas of mutual interest (regulating in a convergent environment; challenges of Next Generation Networks deployment; Radio Frequency Identification (RFID); Open Source Software; developing safer and securer environments for ICT usages.
  • Continue cooperation in the area of financial services regulation, including at forthcoming senior level contacts, with an emphasis on meeting the 2009 target for equivalence on accounting and auditing rules and standards.
  • Continue cooperation under the new EU-Japan Action Plan on IPR Protection and Enforcement.
  • Continue EU-Japan macro-economic dialogue.

Objective 3: Coping with Global and Societal Challenges

  • Conclude and implement the EC-Japan Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology.
  • Implement the ITER project in accordance with the ITER Agreement as soon as it enters into force. Implement the Broader Approach activities in accordance with the Broader Approach Agreement which entered into force on 1 June 2007.
  • Hold a regular High Level Meeting on the Environment and conduct ad-hoc consultations at every opportunity, and intensify EU-Japan cooperation towards the establishment of an effective post-2012 framework in the field of climate change.
  • Continue consultations on energy efficiency, sustainability and security through the newly-launched expert dialogue on energy.
  • Develop new international strategy on energy efficiency with close cooperation with the IEA.
  • Continue to take the lead in the development of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), especially toward the success of the Fourth Earth Observation Ministerial Summit in Capetown, South Africa on 30 November 2007.
  • Continue and enhance ongoing dialogue on development policy and cooperation.
  • Pursue dialogue on issues of mutual interest regarding maritime transport policy and maritime safety.
  • Continue cooperation in the area of employment and hold a joint tripartite symposium on the diversification of forms of work and employment in Tokyo at the beginning of 2008.

Objective 4: Bringing Together People and Cultures

  • Further build on the success of the 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges by reviewing the possibility to enhance exchange programmes, particularly in the field of higher education.
  • Build on the experience of the pilot projects in the field of higher education and further enhance cooperation in this field between the EU and Japan. Explore the possibility of organising an ad hoc seminar on educational policy issues of mutual interest.
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