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Welcome to the website of the Delegation for Relations with Japan

The Delegation was formed among the first in the Parliament in 1979. It holds annual Inter-Parliamentary Meetings (IPMs) with the National Diet of Japan.

Japan is our key strategic partner. We are likeminded with common interests in defending the rule of law, democracy and human rights. Such partner is highly valued when the international rule of law is challenged.

The Free Trade Agreement, largest ever at the time, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), entered into force on 1 February 2019. The political framework agreement, the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), started provisional application same day. Following completion of the ratifications and the notifications this agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2025.

I am very pleased that the bilateral cooperation has spread to numerous sectors and is expanding much beyond the more conventional trade and investment relations and cooperation on foreign policy. We share interest in security and defence, especially cybersecurity cooperation, energy and technology cooperation, climate change and WTO reform. We also share close interest in achieving lasting peace, security in the Korean peninsula. Latest areas of mutual cooperation include digital partnership, digital society and economy, green transition, and exchanges on artificial intelligence and its regulatory needs.

I look forward to working together with Japan Delegation colleagues and further deepening our relations with Japan.

Adam Bielan

Chair