EU-Japan summit, Brussels - Main contents

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Agenda highlights

The EU-Japan summit will bring together EU and Japanese leaders to discuss trade, strategic cooperation, and preparations for the G20 summit.

The EU will be represented by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. Japan will be represented by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Trade

EU and Japan leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to free trade and the rules-based international order.

Both sides will take stock of the implementation of the EU-Japan free trade agreement and the EU-Japan strategic partnership agreement.

The free trade agreement entered into force on 1 February 2019. It removes most of the duties that EU companies pay annually to export to Japan as well as several regulatory barriers.

A large part of the strategic partnership agreement has also been provisionally applied since 1 February. It seeks to strengthen cooperation across a broad range of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues.

Strategic cooperation

In addition to trade matters, EU and Japan leaders are expected to discuss closer cooperation in several areas, including:

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  connectivity
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  data protection
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  climate change

The summit will also be an occasion to prepare the G20 summit. It will take place in Osaka on 28-29 June 2019.

Regional and foreign policy issues

Leaders are also expected to address developments in the EU's and Japan's respective neighbourhoods. They may discuss:

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  the Korean peninsula
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  the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)
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  Crimea and the Azov Sea
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  the East and South China seas

Programme

25/04/2019

17:30

Arrival and welcome of Japan Prime Minister Shinzō Abe

17:35

Leaders' meeting

17:55

Plenary session

19:10

Press conference

19:35

Dinner

See also

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  EU-Japan summit, 17/07/2018
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  G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, 28-29/06/2019
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  EU-Japan relations (EEAS)
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  EU delegation to Japan (EEAS)
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  EU-Japan free trade agreement (European Commission)

In the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings.

Together with the European Parliament , the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU.

Not to be confused with:

• - 

  European Council - quarterly summits, where EU leaders meet to set the broad direction of EU policy making

The European Council brings together EU leaders to set the EU's political agenda. It represents the highest level of political cooperation between EU countries.

One of the EU's 7 official institutions, the Council takes the form of (usually quarterly) summit meetings between EU leaders, chaired by a permanent president.

What does the European Council do?