Countries & Regions

On Monday, June 17, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, who was on his visit to the United Kingdom for the G8 Summit at Lough Erne, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and H.E. Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, from 7:30 P.M. (3:30 A.M., Tuesday, June 18, Japan Time) for approximately 20 minutes. An overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

   Prime Minister Abe stated that progress on negotiations for the Japan-EU EPA is extremely important in order for both Japan and Europe to reap the fruits of growth. In response, President Van Rompuy said that the Japan-EU EPA would lead to economic growth in both Japan and Europe, and expressed expectations toward the swift advancement of the negotiations.

2. Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA)

   Prime Minister Abe stated his expectations that the Japan-EU SPA being negotiated alongside the EPA would become a cornerstone for the promotion of cooperation between Japan and the EU in a wide range of fields. In response, President Barroso said that the EU as well placed high priority on the SPA, regarding it as a means of consolidating the Japan-EU relations.

3. Japan-EU Summit

   The leaders agreed that the 21st Japan-EU Summit that had been scheduled in March would instead be held in Tokyo in the latter half of November.

4. Import Restrictions by the EU on Japanese Products

   Prime Minister Abe stated that import restrictions placed on Japanese products were impeding progress in reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and asked for understanding of the elimination of such restrictions by the EU.