The Political Dialogue is a vital element in EU-Japan relations...
In the post-Cold War era, the international political scene is changing rapidly and continuously, creating an important and ever-increasing need for closer political discussion and cooperation between global partners.
In this new geo-political climate, the economic and trading power of the EU and Japan and their long-established relationship in these fields means that consultations and a common approach to the partners’ shared global responsibilities is both logical and desirable.
...renewed by the 2001 Action Plan, yet first defined by the 1991 Joint Declaration
These needs were first reflected in the 1991 Joint Declaration on 'relations between the European Community and its Member States and Japan', which first established the objectives and framework for political dialogue between the EU and Japan at all levels. Commitment to these principles has been confirmed at successive annual EU-Japan Heads of Government Summits since 1991.
The 1991 Declaration set out joint political objectives based on a number of shared principles, including the need to promote freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights and the common attachment to the principles of a market economy shared by the EU and Japan. These objectives reflect the partners' mutual desire for global stability in the post-Cold War era.
The EU-Japan dialogue aims to improve cooperation on promoting negotiated solutions to international or regional tensions, to strengthen the open multilateral trading system and to support the integration of developing countries into the world system. The main structures for pursuing these aims currently consist of:
- EU-Japan Summit - an annual Summit between the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and Japan's Prime Minister;
- EU-Japan Troika Ministerial Meeting - biannual meetings between the EU Troika at Foreign Ministers level and the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs; and
- EU-Japan Troika Political Directors Meeting - biannual meetings between the EU Troika and Japan at the level of Political Directors (senior officials from the European Commission, EU Member States and Japanese Foreign Ministries).
... and political relations developed naturally within that structure
Economic interdependence increases the EU and Japan's mutual interest in global, regional and security issues.
EU-Japan cooperation on foreign policy issues now covers a wide range of subjects. Exchanges at Summit and Ministerial level are prepared at working level:
- Political Directors develop the substance of EU-Japan political relations. They exchange views on high-profile international issues such as the situations in Russia and former Yugoslavia and the security situation in Asia;
- meetings between the EU Troika and Japan Working Groups concentrate on analysis and exchange of information on Asia/Oceania; the Middle East Peace Process, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as former Yugoslavia and Africa;
- an informal political dialogue is now being developed in Tokyo around a number of key issues. This will strengthen EU-Japan relations by developing a "culture of political cooperation" and identifying possible projects for concrete collaboration.
The European Parliament has also played an important role in developing EU-Japan relations, notably through an annual EU-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Meeting. This has taken place more than twenty times and has contributed not only to building contacts with Japanese Diet members but also to enhancing the EU's political profile amongst Japanese decision-makers.
The focus so far has been on developments in Europe and in Asia....
So far, the political dialogue has concentrated mainly on issues within the partners' respective geographical spheres, where each one is playing an increasingly proactive and positive role. Japan's engagement in helping to reconstruct the former Yugoslavia (with a commitment of $800 million for the reconstruction of Bosnia Herzegovina) and the recently announced assistance of $200 million to Kosovo and surrounding countries is an illustration of this trend. So too is the EU's support for non-proliferation in the Korean Peninsula and assistance to enable countries of the region to overcome the effects of the Asian financial crisis (the EU's global contribution to date is second only to Japan’s).
The setting up of the Korean Energy Development Organisation (KEDO) is a good example of multilateral cooperation, comprising as it does the EU, Japan, the United States and South Korea. This organisation was formed because of the need to reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation in North Korea and promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This should contribute to peace and stability in the region.
.... but the 2001 Action Plan broadens political co-operation.
The Action Plan, adopted at an EU-Japan Summit in Brussels in December 2001, broadens the political co-operation between the EU and Japan to include the promotion of peace and security encompassing such issues as Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation, Conflict Prevention and Peace-building as well as Human Rights, Democracy and Stability.
Political relations between the EU and Japan are evolving in response to the new global challenges. The events of 11 September, 2001, for example, have focused both the EU and Japan's attention on the fight against terrorism. The EU welcomes the increased scope and depth of its political dialogue with Japan and the growing commitment of both sides to invest in it. Both sides recognise that by remaining flexible within the framework of existing institutional structures, it will be possible to tackle new subjects as world political events and new global challenges dictate.
Where appropriate, political cooperation could lead to operational results in terms of policy coordination, particularly in areas where a close working dialogue has been developed. This could lead to increased collaboration, as witnessed by the Euratom accession to KEDO and the joint EU-Japan initiative at the United Nations for the establishment of the UN Arms Register.
Current thinking in the European Commission is that the dialogue should be reinforced, notably by in-depth discussions about the political and security situation in North Korea, China's evolving role in the Asian region, the evolution of security structures in Asia and the impact of unilateral and extraterritorial policies on Asia.
Whilst EU-Japan political relations have already come a long way since 1991, both sides agree that they have not yet reached their full potential. An important objective now is to bring EU-Japan political relations to a level reflecting the economic influence of both sides. Each partner recognises that this goal will require renewed political commitment and energy.
There is a new structure for the EU Troika after the Amsterdam Treaty. It will normally consist of the President of the Council of the European Union, the new High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and the EC Commissioner responsible for CFSP.
