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On November 27, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 12th meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy in 2019 at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, discussions were held on the draft Basic Principles of FY2020 Budget Formulation, the implementation of the “employment ice-age generation” support program, and the strengthening of the promotion of next-generation administrative services.
 
Based on the discussions, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, we first held a discussion on the proposed principles of the budget formulation for next fiscal year. We are now faced with the need to tackle three challenges simultaneously. These are accelerating recovery and reconstruction from the successive natural disasters, taking full preparation for adverse impacts in the event that downside risks from overseas become tangible, and maintaining and improving economic vitality looking to the future beyond next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. For this reason, adopting the concept of a 15-month budget, we aim to appropriately mix the budget for this fiscal year, which includes contingency funds and a supplementary budget, with the temporary special measures included in the budget for the next fiscal year, in order to implement seamless, flexible, and thorough economic and fiscal management. I ask you to cooperate closely with the ruling parties to finalize these basic principles firmly.
 
Next, we discussed the support for the ‘employment ice-age generation.’ As I have been saying until now, support for the ‘employment ice-age generation’ is a pressing issue that could determine the future of Japan, and it is vital for society as a whole, including the public, to advance initiatives. Yesterday, we launched the Nationwide Platform for the Promotion of Support, with a variety of people joining us. The Government will take the lead in implementing support measures, such as taking concrete measures from the coming fiscal year to promote mid-career recruitment for civil servants. I would like Minister Nishimura, working with the relevant ministers, to compile an effective and detailed action plan by the end of the year.
 
Furthermore, we held a discussion on next-generation administrative services. In order to realize such services across the whole of Japan in a timely manner, as the expert members proposed, it is important to make the transition to a common information infrastructure, through a concerted effort of the national and local governments and the private sectors. I ask the Chief Cabinet Secretary, collaborating with the relevant ministers, including the Minister in charge of Information Technology Policy and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communication, to accelerate such initiatives.”