This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement
SUMMARY OF:
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (SPA) AND OF THE DECISIONS?
The SPA is the first-ever bilateral framework agreement between the EU and Japan. It aims to ensure closer political and economic cooperation on a whole host of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues.
Alongside specific policy areas, the SPA confirms the partners’ commitment to preserve international peace and security, and promote shared democratic values and principles.
Decision (EU) 2018/1197 enables the signing of the SPA on behalf of the EU. Decision (EU) 2024/1394 concludes the SPA on behalf of the EU.
KEY POINTS
The wide-ranging SPA covers cooperation on:
- promoting peace and security, democracy, rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms, regional and interregional cooperation and reform of the United Nations;
- tackling:
- weapons of mass destruction,
- serious international crimes,
- terrorism (including its financing),
- chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks,
- illegal trade in small arms,
- corruption and organised crime,
- money laundering,
- illicit drugs, and
- cybercrime;
- supporting crisis and disaster management, humanitarian activities, sustainable development and poverty eradication;
- cooperating in a number of domestic policy areas such as
- economic, financial and judicial affairs
- science, technology and innovation
- customs, taxation, energy, agriculture and employment;
- exchanging views, information and best practice on issues ranging from climate change and outer space to the information society and the environment.
The SPA provides for:
- a joint committee to coordinate the overall partnership;
- a dispute settlement procedure.
FROM WHEN DOES THE SPA APPLY?
Given the importance of implementing the SPA as soon as possible, the EU and Japan agreed to apply a number of the SPA’s articles provisionally pending its entry into force. These articles cover:
- areas including promotion of peace and security;
- policies such as transport, tourism and the environment; and
- the creation of a joint committee.
The SPA will enter into force after ratification procedures by EU Member States are completed and the European Parliament has given its consent.
BACKGROUND
In parallel to the negotiations on the SPA, the EU and its Member States opened negotiations for an economic partnership agreement with Japan on . These began in April 2013 and the contents of the first-ever bilateral framework agreement between the EU and Japan were finalised in April 2018.
On , the Council of the EU authorised the signing of the strategic partnership agreement on behalf of the EU. The SPA was signed by the EU and Japan at the 25th EU-Japan summit in Tokyo on . The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement was also signed in Tokyo on .
For more information, see:
- EU and Japan conclude negotiations for Strategic Partnership Agreement (European External Action Service)
- EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement – factsheet (European External Action Service).
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part (OJ L 216, , pp. 4–22).
Council Decision (EU) 2018/1197 of on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part (OJ L 216, , pp. 1–3).
Council Decision (EU) 2024/1394 of on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part (OJ L, 2024/1394, ).
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