EU-Japan relations

EU launches tool to help exporters seize benefits of Mutual Recognition Agreements

The new 'Access2Conformity' tool will allow EU exporters large and small to reduce red tape by making better use of the EU’s Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with third countries.

19th Japan-EU High-Level Dialogue on Environment

Japan and the European Commission held their 19th High-Level Dialogue on Environment via videoconference on 23 January 2023 to discuss three key environmental issues – biodiversity, circular economy and plastics, and pollution.

Strengthen Japan-EU relations in a new era

A special New Year column on EU-Japan relations written by our Managing Director Yasuo Tanabe has been published on the website of the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

Kyushu University EU Centre Jean Monnet Seminar

Special Lecture by H.E. Mr Haitze Siemers, Chargé d'Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan on “EU-Japan Relations".

Japan Bioeconomy Strategy

Japanese government developed “Japan Bioeconomy Strategy” to achieve the world’s most advanced bioeconomy society in Japan by 2030. The strategy especially promotes industry linkage, biomaterial, sustainable primary production, and health care.

EU-Japan: Annual Joint Committee meeting

On 13 April 2022, senior officials from the EU and Japan convened via videoconference for an informal meeting of the EU-Japan Joint Committee - which coordinates the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement. They reviewed the state of implementation of the Agreement and identified the next steps for further strengthening relations, in view of the bilateral summit meeting in Tokyo later this year.

The EU and Japan open Horizon Europe association talks

Leaders at the EU-Japan Summit taking place in Tokyo agreed to start exploratory talks on Japan’s possible association to the EU's key research & innovation funding programme Horizon Europe. Association is the closest form of international cooperation on research and innovation with third countries, and it could pave the way for an intensified cooperation in research and innovation between the EU and Japan.

EU-Japan Summit: strengthening our partnership

Japan is one of the EU's closest allies. This was reaffirmed during the 28th EU-Japan Summit held on the 12 May 2022 in Tokyo with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. During the summit, the EU and Japan took important steps to take their relations forward, from digital technologies, trade and investments, climate action, biodiversity protection, sustainable development as well as security.

EU SMEs present in Japan with a branch office - a mapping attempt

Following the survey “Opportunities for the Internationalisation of Small and Medium Enterprises”* commissioned by the European Commission in August 2011 with the aim of identifying the opportunities...

In Search for Growth - Towards a New Role for SMEs in EU-Japan Relations

In the present publication the SMEs internationalization topic is approached from several angles and perspectives. The issue of trade and market access to Japan is extensively treated including views...

EU-Japan Centre's News

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Japanese Policy and Regulatory Developments News March 2026

Monthly Japanese Policy and Regulatory Developments News February 2026

Report: Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in Japan

Report: Solar Power Industry Market in Japan

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EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation

Joint venture established in 1987 by the European Commission (DG GROW) and the Japanese Government (METI) for promoting all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the EU and Japan.