Joint Press Statement on the 11th Japan-EU Summit

Tokyo, 8 July 2002

Mr Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark in his capacity as President of the European Council, and Mr Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, met in Tokyo on 8 July 2002 for the 11th Summit between Japan and the European Union. Leaders sent the following message: We welcome the intensification of dialogue between Japan and the EU since the last Summit meeting in December 2001 in Brussels as evidenced by the steady implementation of initiatives set out in the Action Plan for EU-Japan Co-operation. We noted also that last April President Prodi was the first President of the European Commission to be invited to address the Diet. In the seven months since its adoption, the Action Plan has already acted as a catalyst for co-operation in many fields. Some of these achievements and our new priorities before the next Summit are set out in the annexes to this statement. ‚ve are determined to work together to further intensify the co-operation foreseen in the Action Plan and to step up efforts to develop imaginative and practical initiatives under its four pillars, in time for the next Summit. In this regard, we also encourage input from business, academic circles and civil society as appropriate. Our authorities will follow up and report back on progress in these efforts to the next Summit meeting. Indeed, at a meeting with representatives of the Business Dialogue Round Table (EUJBDRT) earlier in the day, we welcomed their recommendations and their willingness to identify concrete ideas to strengthen the economic relations, which is one of the key aims of the Action Plan. We encouraged them to pinpoint their recommendations further and to explore future perspectives for our economic relations in all relevant areas, on trade and investment issues in particular. We also reviewed progress made in bilateral Japan-EU co-operation in the field of counter-terrorism based on the "Japan-EU Joint Declaration on Terrorism" adopted at the last Summit and reiterate our determination to continue to combat terrorism in co-operation with the international community, and in particular within the UN framework. We are keenly aware that in the wake of 11 September it has become more than ever essential for Japan and the EU, as major actors committed to the success of the global system and sharing common values, to deepen our strategic partnership collaboration in areas of priority international concern. In the belief that a well-functioning, rule-based multilateral trade system is an important factor for economic growth, Japan and the EU will co-operate closely to strengthen the WTO. We need to accelerate negotiations on all aspects of the Doha Development Agenda, including market access and rules and facilitating the negotiating process on Singapore issues, in good time for the Fifth WTO Ministerial Meeting in Mexico in September next year. We will combine our efforts to make a success of this Ministerial meeting. Japan and the EU reaffirm their commitment to the multilateralist principles of openness and non-discrimination. We also share the concern about the measures taken by the US government in the steel sector and the need to resist protectionist pressures. As providers of approximately three quarters of total funds available for development assistance we reiterate our commitment to assist the developing countries in their efforts to ensure long-term sustainable development and poverty reduction. We recognise that a substantial increase in ODA and other resources will be required if developing countries are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. We will continue to co-operate closely for the success of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg on the basis of the Doha Development Agenda and the Monterrey Consensus to reach an action-oriented, global and comprehensive outcome. In order to ensure effective action against climate change, we further encourage other countries to conclude the Kyoto Protocol, aiming at its early entry into force, and seek the participation of all countries. We are actively preparing the fourth Asia-Europe Meeting in Copenhagen on 23-24 September 2002. We will co-operate to advance our dialogue on political, economic, social and cultural issues in this unique process which brings together our two regions, and we will have a special dialogue on cultures and civilisations. With regard to the Middle East Peace Process, the international community should commit itself to facilitate the peace process on the basis of international law, relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the Madrid Formula "Land for Peace", by restoring security, accelerating political negotiations and providing reconstruction assistance for an accountable, democratic and market-oriented institution as a basis for a future Palestinian state. We also welcome the Declaration of the Arab Summit of March 2002. We remain committed to the early convening of an international conference which addresses the political, security and economic aspect, as a way of reaffirming the parameters of the political solution. In Afghanistan we support the new Transitional Authority under Mr Hamid Karzai. We welcome the continued commitment by the Afghan people to abide by the Bonn Agreement and pledge to continue our political and economic support for the Transitional Authority in its task of consolidating peace and stability in Afghanistan. In this regard, we send our condolences to President Karzai for the assassination of Vice-President Haji Abdul Quadir in Kabul on 6 July. We encourage all parties not to allow this incident to derail the positive process of the past nine months. We will extend assistance in such areas as peace process, domestic security, the fight against narcotics, reconstruction/rehabilitation and basic humanitarian needs, including education and de-mining, while co-operating on the spot in Kabul and co-ordinating aid policies as appropriate. We welcome the reduction of tensions between India and Pakistan. We call on Pakistan to take effective measures to stop infiltration permanently across the line of control, including dismantling the camps. We encourage India and Pakistan to continue on the path of diplomatic and military confidence-building, to progress towards a full-fledged dialogue and to achieve a lasting settlement of the differences between them. We encourage the DPRK to move further toward dialogue with the ROK, the US, Japan and the EU and share the expectation that this will create tangible results in securing peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. It is now important to make progress on various issues of concern to the international community including security, humanitarian issues and human rights. We share the view that economic reform in the DPRK will also assist its engagement with the international community. We have decided to work closely together to ensure the smooth restructuring and transition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia towards the state of Serbia and Montenegro and to achieve greater donor co-ordination in Kosovo. We confirm our common views on the importance of dealing with illicit small arms and light weapons in Kosovo. We confirm our continued support for the full integration of Russia into the international system, including accession to the WTO. In this regard we affirm that the strengthening of relations between NATO and Russia, and the progress seen in relations between Russia and the US, particularly the recent agreement on the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons, make a major positive contribution to international peace and stability. We welcome the G8 Africa Action Plan announced at the Kananaskis Summit. Japan will proceed further with initiatives in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process and the EU likewise in the Cotonou, Mediterranean and South Africa Agreements, in order to help Africa retain full ownership of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and to implement it effectively. We are committed to stability-oriented macro-economic policies and structural reforms aimed at enhancing growth and financial stability. In this context, the EU leaders noted that the Japanese economy has bottomed out, and encouraged the ongoing efforts for structural reforms in Japan. Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his expectation that EU integration and enlargement to Central and Eastern Europe in particular, would lead to greater stability and prosperity of Europe as a whole, noting the determination of the EU to conclude accession negotiations with the candidate countries that are ready by the end of 2002. In the field of Science and Technology, we hope to proceed quickly to negotiations for a framework agreement on co-operation. We also recognise the long-term importance of promoting people-to-people exchanges between Japan and the EU and declare that both sides should work towards making the year 2005 the "Japan-EU Year of People-to-People Exchanges". The symposium to be held later this year should contribute to its preparation. Annex 1 Review of Implementation of the EU-Japan Action Plan Objective 1 Promoting Peace and Security Co-operation in promoting disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, as well as preventing, combating and eradicating illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects Co-operation in preparing and following up the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children The successful international conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan in Tokyo, January 2002 Objective 2 Strengthening the Economic and Trade Partnership Utilising the Dynamism of Globalisation for the Benefit of all Following the entry into force of the EC-Japan Mutual Recognition Agreement on 1 January 2002, the Joint Committee held its first meeting in March The Japan-EU Investment Symposium in Tokyo, December 2001 Completion of negotiations for the Agreement concerning Co-operation on Anti-Competitive Activities Launch of the Working Group on Monetary and Financial Regional Cooperation in Tokyo in May 2002 Launch of the informal dialogue between regulators in the financial services sector within the existing framework in Tokyo in May 2002 Steps taken to streamline and better focus the Regulatory Reform Dialogue Expert meetings on the fourth generation mobile telecommunications system and IPv6 Objective 3 Coping with Global and Societal Challenges The holding of the Japan-EU symposium on Older Workers in Brussels in March 2002 The Ministerial Conference on Transport was held in January and the Working Group on Clean Urban Transport was launched in February 2002 The EU and Japan concluded the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 before the WSSD and encouraged other partners to do so Exchange of views during preparatory process of the WSSD Japan's decision to conclude the Energy Charter Treaty Initial dialogue between Europol and Japanese police authorities Signature and ratification of relevant UN counter-terrorism conventions and protocols in a number of countries, including Japan Objective 4 Bringing together people and cultures The holding of a workshop in April 2002 to prepare the Symposium on this issue to take place in Japan later this year A pilot scheme to exchange Masters-level students between EU and Japanese universities has been launched with joint funding to start in 2002 A joint initiative "New trends of Architecture in Europe and Japan" Annex 2 Actions to be targeted by the next EU-Japan Summit The following-up of the Action Plan through the Steering Group Objective 1 Promoting Peace and Security Co-operation for the Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 4) and co-operation after ASEM 4 as coordinators Ensure better coordination on the ground and complementarity of projects to remove landmines in Afghanistan, thus promoting the return and resettlement of refugees, and to ensure the rapid and smooth completion of local capacity building Further Co-operation on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, both bilaterally and in relevant multilateral fora, on the basis of mutual understanding on each other's security concerns, including the finalisation and universalisation of the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation Support positive developments to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Coordination of efforts to establish and render fully operational the International Criminal Court Donor-co-ordination in reconstruction and rehabilitation of Southeastern Europe, including de-mining project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, media development project in Kosovo, etc. Objective 2 Strengthening the Economic and Trade Partnership Utilising the Dynamism of Globalisation for the Benefit of All Achieve closer cooperation on the WTO Doha Development Agenda to ensure a balanced approach across all sectors and the promotion of Trade-Related Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building. Ensure coherence between the outcomes of Doha, Monterrey and Johannesburg Implementation of the short term priority initiatives in the field of Information and Communications Technologies to be agreed shortly by Japan and the European Commission Strengthened cooperation in tourism Early signing of the Agreement concerning Co-operation on Anti-Competitive Activities Continuation of personnel exchanges between the Japan International Co-operation Agency and the relevant EU authorities Objective 3 Coping with Global and Societal Changes Exchange of views and eventual cooperation on implementation of WSSD outcomes Regular exchange of views in the area of gender equality Further encourage other countries to conclude the Kyoto Protocol, aiming at its early entry into force, and seek the effective participation of all countries in the efforts to address climate change Establish enhanced dialogue on food safety, including the EU's request for membership of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Promotion of close contacts between the Japanese Ambassador in charge of International Counter-Terrorism Co-operation and EU counterparts Conclusion of the EU-Japan agreement for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy Co-operation for the expansion of geographical coverage of the Energy Charter Process inter alia to Russia Co-operation for the success of the 8th International Energy Forum to be held in Osaka in September Engage in dialogue on satellite navigation systems which, in order to enhance transport safety in general, are interoperable around the world Building on the initial dialogue which started in 2002, prepare for negotiation as soon as possible for a framework agreement for cooperation in the field of Science and Technology Continue exchange of views and collaboration in order to combat illegal logging and the use of illegally harvested timber and related products Objective 4 Bringing together People and Cultures Co-operation for a successful symposium on this Objective in Tokyo later this year Exchange of intellectuals and experts in various fields, including that of security