—

having regard to joint statement adopted at the 29th EU-Japan summit held on 13 July 2023 in Brussels,

—

having regard to the 41st EU-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Meeting held on 12 and 13 July 2023 in Strasbourg,

—

having regard to the 19th Japan-EU High Level Dialogue on Environment held on 23 January 2023,

—

having regard to the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part (1),

—

having regard to the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership (2) in force since February 2019,

—

having regard to the document entitled ‘Towards a Green Alliance to protect our environment, stop climate change and achieve green growth’ adopted at the EU-Japan Summit of 27 May 2021,

—

having regard to the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence approved by the Council on 21 March 2022,

—

having regard to the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Agreement that was launched at the EU-Japan summit held in Tokyo on 12 May 2022,

—

having regard to the NATO 2022 Strategic Concept, adopted at the Madrid Summit, on 29 and 30 June 2022,

—

having regard to the strategy document entitled ‘Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe – A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy’ of June 2016,

—

having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 16 September 2021 entitled ‘The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’ (JOIN(2021)0024) and to the Indo-Pacific strategies adopted by several EU Member States,

—

having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 1 December 2021 entitled ‘The Global Gateway’ (JOIN(2021)0030),

—

having regard to the Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure between the European Union and Japan signed in Brussels on 27 September 2019 during the first Europa Connectivity Forum,

—

having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 20 June 2023 entitled ‘On “European Economic Security Strategy” ’ (JOIN(2023)0020),

—

having regard to the EU Global Health Strategy, adopted on 30 November 2022,

—

having regard to the EU-Japan Memorandum of Cooperation on semiconductors and to the Memorandum of Cooperation to support secure and resilient submarine cable connectivity for secure, resilient and sustainable global connectivity signed on 3 July 2023 in Tokyo at the first Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council meeting,

—

having regard to the EU-Japan Administrative Arrangement on Cooperation in Critical Raw Materials Supply Chains agreed on 6 July 2023,

—

having regard to the Memorandum of Cooperation on Hydrogen signed by the Commission and Japan on 2 December 2022,

—

having regard to the fifth meeting of the Japan-EU Space Policy Dialogue, held in Brussels 17 January 2023, and the signing of the Copernicus Cooperation Arrangement,

—

having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 10 March 2023 on the update of the EU Maritime Security Strategy and its Action Plan ‘An enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy for evolving maritime threats’ (JOIN(2023)0008),

—

having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2023/362 of 14 February 2023 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Japan on certain provisions of agreements between Member States of the European Union and Japan for air services (3),

—

having regard to the Administrative Arrangement between EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and Japan’s Defence Deployment Surface Force for Counter-Piracy Enforcement signed on 15 March 2023,

—

having regard to the Research Framework Arrangement for cooperation on foresight between the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) signed on 13 July 2023,

—

having regard to the Digital Trade Principles adopted at the third High-Level Economic Dialogue between the EU and Japan held on 27 June 2023,

—

having regard to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1453 of 13 July 2023 repealing Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1533 imposing special conditions governing the import of feed and food originating in or dispatched from Japan following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power station (4),

—

having regard to the Co-Chairs’ press release of the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum held in Stockholm on 13 May 2023,

—

having regard to Japan’s new plan for a free and open Indo-Pacific (‘The Future of the Indo-Pacific’) announced in March 2023,

—

having regard to Japan’s security strategies updated in December 2022 (National Security Strategy, National Defence Strategy, Defence Build-up Programme),

—

having regard to Japan’s Global Health Strategy, launched in May 2022,

—

having regard to the Hiroshima for Global Peace Plan,

—

having regard to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), released at the 34th ASEAN Summit, held in June 2019,

—

having regard to the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment,

—

having regard to the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing,

—

having regard to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions,

—

having regard to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct,

—

having regard to the G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué of 20 May 2023, including the Leaders’ statements on Ukraine, Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, Economic Resilience and Economic Security, Clean Energy Economy Action Plan, and Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security,

—

having regard to the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment,

—

having regard to the Communiqué adopted by the health ministers of the G7 summit in Nagasaki, adopted on 14 May 2023,

—

having regard to the joint statement on a new era of trilateral partnership of 18 August 2023 agreed by Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States at the trilateral leaders’ summit held at Camp David,

—

having regard to the report of 25 November 2020 entitled ‘NATO 2030: United for a New Era’ by the Reflection Group appointed by the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),

—

having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

—

having regard to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concluded on 10 December 1982 and in force since 16 November 1994,

—

having regard to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

—

having regard to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted by the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 19 December 2022,

—

having regard to the UN General Assembly resolution on aggression against Ukraine adopted on 2 March 2022,

—

having regard to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and to the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on 4 November 2016,

—

having regard to its resolution of 17 April 2014 containing the European Parliament’s recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership agreement (5) (SPA),

—

having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2018 on the adequacy of the protection of personal data afforded by Japan (6),

—

having regard to its resolution of 8 July 2020 on the international and domestic parental abduction of EU children in Japan (7),

—

having regard to having regard to its resolution of 26 November 2020 on the EU Trade Policy Review (8),

—

having regard to having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on connectivity and EU-Asia relations (9),

—

having regard to its resolution of 7 June 2022 on the EU and the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific (10),

—

having regard to having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2023 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022 (11),

—

having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A9-0373/2023),

A.

whereas the EU and Japan will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2024; whereas their representatives have met at the highest level in 29 summits over the decades;

B.

whereas Japan is the EU’s closest strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region; whereas both sides share a very broad range of values and goals; whereas global challenges and, in particular, growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region require an ever closer partnership between the EU and Japan; whereas the EU and Japan seek common approaches at bilateral level and in multilateral forums such as the G7, G20, the UN, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Health Organization and the OECD, as well as an alignment as like-minded donors;

C.

whereas the EU and Japan have committed to working together and with a wide range of like-minded partners to promote peace, security, the rule of law, environmental and climate responsibility, economic resilience, democratic values and human rights, and to promote the international rules-based order and multilateralism, including freedom of navigation, in an increasingly complex global and regional security landscape; whereas the EU and Japan strive to share responsibility in international relations to foster fair and sustainable development and prosperity, address humanitarian needs, achieve human-centric digitalisation and technology development, tackle the climate and biodiversity crises and enhance health security;

D.

whereas the Russian war against Ukraine has demonstrated the need for improving alliances in the Indo-Pacific area and to work more closely with like-minded partners around the world;

E.

whereas Japan is an important actor in several forums and dialogue platforms in the Indo-Pacific such as, for example, the East-Asia Summit and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD);

F.

whereas the EU is the leading development cooperation partner, one of the biggest trading partners and the top investor in the Indo-Pacific region; whereas the security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific region are closely interlinked;

G.

whereas it is of paramount importance for the EU to cooperate with Japan given the Indo-Pacific’s growing economic, demographic, and political weight and its geopolitically and geo-economically strategic position; whereas both the EU and Japan are confronted with similar socio-economic challenges; whereas the EU and some of its Member States have been addressing Indo-Pacific issues through their Indo-Pacific strategies; whereas Japan was one of the first countries to adopt an economic security strategy and the Commission published its communication on the European Economic Security Strategy on 20 June 2023;

H.

whereas the EU and Japan seek peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific, as this is inextricably linked to the peace and stability of the European continent; whereas a free and open Indo-Pacific is therefore a core interest pursued both by Japan and the EU, in particular by promoting a rules-based international order in which all countries adhere to international law and the principle of the peaceful settlement of conflicts; whereas Japan is an important defender of the rules-based international order in the region; whereas both sides oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the Taiwan Strait and have reaffirmed repeatedly that the acquisition of territory by force is prohibited; whereas both sides believe that conflicts in the South China Sea and the East China Sea should be resolved peacefully on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS, and without any party resorting to coercion against other claimants; whereas UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out;

I.

whereas Japan adopted new national security and defence strategies in December 2022; whereas, on 19 April 2021, the Council adopted the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific;

J.

whereas the EU and Japan hold regular consultations and dialogues on security- and defence-related issues, including on cybersecurity, disinformation and space, while also cooperating on nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament and crisis management; whereas the EU and Japan have recently launched a strategic dialogue at foreign ministerial level;

K.

whereas Japan is a partner of NATO in defending global norms and rules; whereas the NATO-Japan partnership has been further enhanced with the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme for 2023-2026;

L.

whereas EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and Japan’s Defence Force are cooperating successfully and conduct join naval exercises in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea; whereas the EU and Japan are exploring cooperation to provide training and capacity building in the areas of maritime security and peacekeeping for partners in Southeast Asia and in Africa, including through the EU’s Critical Maritime Routes in the Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO) project;

M.

whereas Japan and the EU have jointly condemned the continued defiance of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea; whereas the EU has expressed its solidarity with Japan against North Korean provocations;

N.

whereas the EU and Japan have both demonstrated reliable support for Ukraine and their condemnation of Russia’s brutal, unprovoked and illegal war of aggression; whereas the EU and Japan have committed to maintaining pressure on Russia, including through restrictive measures and to prevent the circumvention of the restrictive measures;

O.

whereas China’s military build-up, military activities and increasingly assertive foreign policy are causing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region;

P.

whereas both the EU and Japan have been confronted with foreign influence operations and disinformation campaigns from authoritarian actors;

Q.

whereas the EU and Japan have both committed to climate neutrality by 2050; whereas Japan is a crucial partner for the EU in implementing the Paris Agreement; whereas addressing the dual climate and biodiversity crises necessitates adequate contributions from the EU and Japan to climate finance, including in particular the loss and damage fund;

R.

whereas Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was a special guest at the EU Connectivity Forum in Brussels in September 2019, at which the EU and Japan concluded a Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure; whereas this partnership was the first of its kind; whereas the EU and Japan have committed to supporting secure and sustainable, trusted connectivity in the context of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment; whereas trans-Oceanic submarine cables, including along the Arctic Route, and energy transformation projects as well as investment in resilient supply chains are of particular priority;

S.

whereas the digital transformation and global competition for technology have important economic and security dimensions; whereas the EU and Japan have shared interests in cooperation on international standard setting, artificial intelligence (AI), network infrastructure, quantum computing and innovative technologies;

T.

whereas a new partnership agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific states will enter into force in the near future; whereas this opens up opportunities for closer cooperation between the EU and Japan in their respective engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific;

U.

whereas the International Maritime Organization sets global regulatory standards for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping;

V.

whereas the EU and Japan are leading donors of global development assistance; whereas the European Investment Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have signed agreements, including on transport, infrastructure investments, microfinance and renewable energy sources;

W.

whereas cooperation on scientific, societal, cultural and political issues and the mutual exchange of experience can strengthen the partnership and deliver for citizens on both sides; whereas parliamentary diplomacy and party-to-party relations can play a constructive role in this context;

X.

whereas the Japan-EU Digital Partnership was launched at the EU-Japan summit held in Tokyo on 12 May 2022;

Y.

whereas the second EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum was held in Stockholm on 13 May 2023;

Z.

whereas the 49th G7 summit was held in Hiroshima from 19 to 21 May 2023;

AA.

whereas Japan has yet to abolish the death penalty and continues to enforce it;

AB.

whereas Japan is not ranked very high in international comparisons of gender parity;

AC.

whereas on 19 July 2022, Japan ratified Convention No 105 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the abolition of forced labour;