PURPOSE: to conclude the Strategic Partnership
Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and
Japan.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act
only if Parliament has given its consent to the
act.
BACKGROUND: the EU and Japan have a history of
extensive political, economic and sectoral cooperation, which has
evolved with time. Building on shared fundamental values, the EU
established a Strategic Partnership with Japan in 2001.
On 29 November 2012, the Council adopted a
Decision authorising the European Commission and the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
to negotiate a framework agreement between the European Union and
its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part.
These negotiations began in April 2013 and were concluded in April
2018.
Following the adoption of the Council Decision
on the signing and provisional application of the Strategic
Partnership Agreement, the Agreement was signed.
The High Representative and the Commission
considered that the objectives set by the Council in its directives
on the negotiation of the Agreement have been met and that the
Agreement can be submitted for conclusion.
The present joint proposal concerns the legal
instrument concluding the Agreement.
CONTENT: this draft Council Decision seeks to
approve, on behalf of the Union, the Strategic Partnership
Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the
one part, and Japan, of the other part.
This Agreement is the first-ever bilateral
framework agreement between the EU and Japan. It will provide a
legal foundation for improving bilateral cooperation and
cooperation in international and regional organisations and
fora.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Economic
Partnership Agreement are part of one negotiating context and
have a clear legal link. Together, they are expected to provide
tangible benefits and opportunities to the people of the EU and
Japan.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement aims to
strengthen political, economic and sectoral cooperation across a
wide spectrum of policy fields, such as climate change, research
and innovation, maritime affairs, education, culture, migration,
counter-terrorism and the fight against organised crime and
cybercrime.
A Joint Committee shall be established with the
objective of coordinating the overall partnership which is built
upon this Agreement.