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On December 8, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister's Official Residence regarding a summit telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, from the European Union (EU).

With regard to the conclusion of the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the Prime Minister said,
 
“A moment ago, we concluded the Japan-EU EPA. In light of this, I held a summit telephone talk with President Juncker of the EU. This was truly remarkable. Japan and the EU will work hand-in-hand to create an economic zone built on free and fair rules. This zone will serve as a model for economic order of the international community in the 21st century. Japan and the EU are embarking on a new era. This EPA will create a huge economic zone with 600 million people and approximately 30 percent of the world GDP. It will act as a new engine for Abenomics, and will soon spring into action. Japan intends to leverage the new potential offered by this EPA to grow our economy and enrich the lives of our people, and the Government will do everything it can to achieve this.”