EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION AND OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (SPA)?

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.

The decision enables the signing of 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;
  • economic, financial and judicial affairs
  • science, technology and innovation
  • customs, taxation, energy, agriculture and employment;

  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 countries are completed and the European Parliament has given its consent.

  BACKGROUND

  In parallel to the negotiations on the SPA, the EU and its EU countries opened negotiations for an economic partnership agreement with Japan on 29 November 2012. 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 26 June 2018, 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 17 July 2018. The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement was also signed in Tokyo on 17 July 2018.

  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

  Council Decision (EU) 2018/1197 of 26 June 2018 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, 24.8.2018, pp. 1-3)

  Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part (OJ L 216, 24.8.2018, pp. 4-22)

  RELATED DOCUMENTS

  Council Decision (EU) 2018/966 of 6 July 2018 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership (OJ L 174, 10.7.2018, p. 1)

  Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union — Title V — General provisions on the Union’s external action and specific provisions on the common foreign and security policy — Chapter 2 — Specific provisions on the common foreign and security policy — Section 1 — Common provisions — Article 37 (ex Article 24 TEU) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 36)

  Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union — Part Five — The Union’s external action — Title III — Cooperation with third countries and humanitarian aid — Chapter 2 — Economic, financial and technical cooperation with third countries — Article 212 (ex Article 181a TEC) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 142)