Brussels, 19 December 2024
On 18 December, the 5th meeting of the Joint Committee under the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) was held in Brussels.
The Joint Committee took place shortly after the 1st EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue in Tokyo on 1 November. It was an opportunity to reaffirm the very strong and dynamic strategic partnership between the EU and Japan, and their continued close cooperation in an increasingly challenging geopolitical context.
The EU and Japan reviewed the ongoing implementation of the SPA, with a specific focus on the Digital Partnership, Green Alliance, Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure, and the recently announced Security and Defence Partnership. The substantial agenda included a range of additional sectoral matters, such as industrial and business cooperation, transport, research, space, education, labour, etc.
The EU and Japan also exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest. They expressed joint commitment to further strengthening their Strategic Partnership and look forward to the next EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo in 2025.
The meeting was co-chaired by Niclas Kvarnström, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific, European External Action Service, and Katsuro Kitagawa, Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Source – EEAS