EU - Japan Relations

Japan has been a strategic partner of the EU since 2004 and is one of Asia's most industrialized countries, playing an active role in regional security issues in Southeast and Northeast Asia.

EU - Japan relations are based on the 2001 Joint Declaration, which set out the broad areas of bilateral cooperation, and have evolved on the basis of the orientations given by the annual Summits (on the EU side, only the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission participate). The dialogue with the EU focuses on the following thematic areas: regional and international issues of mutual interest, environment, trade policy, economy and finance, industry, energy, maritime transport, technology, and science. Japan is the EU's second-biggest trading partner in Asia after China. The scope of strategic cooperation between the two partners is also demonstrated by the fact that the EU and Japan account for 1/3 of the global Gross National Product.

As confirmed at the 28th EU-Japan Summit held on 12 May 2022 in Tokyo, Japan is one of the EU's closest allies, regionally and globally. During the Summit, the EU and Japan took essential steps to advance their relations in areas such as digital technologies, trade and investment, climate action, biodiversity protection, sustainable development, and security. The EU-Japan Digital Partnership, the first agreement signed by the EU, was launched at the Summit on 12 May 2022. It was also agreed to formally launch exploratory talks to link Japan to the EU's “Horizon Europe” research and innovation program and to speed up the implementation of the EU-Japan Green Alliance.

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Japan came into force on February 1, 2019, at the same time as the Strategic Partnership Agreement. Key areas of Greek interest are identified in tariff reductions on fresh and processed agricultural products, elimination of non-tariff measures in trade (especially in the food sector), protection of geographical indications, opening of public procurement, and liberalization of maritime services.