EU and Japan discuss security and economic challenges

The European Union and Japan have discussed several common security and economic challenges, including the preparation of a cooperation agreement on raw materials to counter China's dominance in this field, according to officials on Thursday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Brussels, where they also discussed coordination between the two sides in the semiconductor sector.

The three officials spoke during a joint press conference after holding a two-hour summit in the Belgian capital, following their attendance at the NATO Summit hosted in Vilnius this week.

The three officials addressed security issues of mutual interest, especially since Japan currently holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven (G7).

Michel strongly condemned North Korea's launch of a solid-fuel ballistic missile on Wednesday, considering that Pyongyang's nuclear program "threatens regional and international security."

Furthermore, von der Leyen affirmed that the EU and Japan are preparing to launch a "strategic dialogue" to coordinate efforts in addressing "unprecedented challenges to peace and security," including economic security in the Asia-Pacific region.

While she noted that the war between Russia and Ukraine has shown how supply chains can be affected, she emphasized that the EU and Japan "share the same dependencies" in terms of essential raw materials for their economies.

She stressed, "One of our goals is to reduce excessive reliance on a limited group of suppliers, many of whom are based in China, and provide critical products for our economies."

Kishida highlighted the importance of joint cooperation without directly mentioning China.

He stated, "For Japan, the European Union, and like-minded countries, it is important to coordinate and respond in a unified voice on economic security and risk reduction."

He affirmed that regarding the supply chains of semiconductors, "We are working together on advanced skills for the semiconductor industry."

The three officials also discussed cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. Von der Leyen emphasized the shared desire to ensure that artificial intelligence products do not fall into the hands of other countries that may use them for military purposes.

During the summit, Japan obtained an immediate lifting of the European Union's restrictions on food imports from the Fukushima region, where a nuclear power plant accident occurred due to an earthquake in March 2011.

The European Commission explained that, based on the data provided by Tokyo, European Union citizens face no risk from consuming plants, fish, or mushrooms sourced from Fukushima.

Kishida welcomed the decision to lift the restrictions, confirming that it was based on "science."

In return, Michel affirmed that Brussels is working to improve the access of European meats, vegetables, and fruits to the Japanese market.



AFP