Speaker Kono
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DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH JAPAN th 28 EP/JAPAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY MEETING 28 May – 1 June 2007 in Tôkyô and Hokkaido REPORT The Delegation for relations with Japan visited Japan from 28 May – 1 June 2007, under the leadership of Georg JARZEMBOWSKI (EPP-ED), Chairman of the Delegation.1 It held the 28th EP/Japan Interparliamentary Meeting at the National Diet of Japan in Tôkyô and met Prime Minister Shinzo ABE as well as Defence Minister Fumio KYUMA. This visit took place at a time when the global recession affected Japan with a particular intensity, given the country's dependency on exports. At the same time, the political climate was troubled, with an ailing government a few weeks or months ahead of a general election, but with an opposition party in an equally difficult position with the public opinion. More immediately, the visit followed immediately the G20 Summit in London, and North Korea had just launched a rocket (claimed to be a satellite launch, but identical to a long- range ballistic missile) the parts of which had landed in the Japan Sea, in breach of the UN sanctions resolutions. PARLIAMENT The Speaker The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yohei Kono, explained that the Diet was actively involved in the process to reform the constitution, relying in particular on examples taken from EU and EU Member states' experience. The requirement of a referendum was a new concept in Japan. Mr Nakayama explained the electoral rules to be specifically implemented for the referendum, in particular the prohibition of commercial style advertisement in the last two weeks Mr Jarzembowski asked which topics were of most interest to the citizens in Japan, mentioning climate change as main concern in Europe. Speaker replied that citizens expressed most interest in welfare and education questions, but in the political arena security and defence have taken a great importance. Mrs Breyer asked about the role of women in Japanese politics. The speaker replied that the participation of women in political life since 1945 started at a low level and even declined in the first decades, but is now increasing. 1 List of Members and programme are attached. CR\784834EN.doc PE 424.320 On a question by Mr Jarzembowski, he tried to define the profile of the main Japanese political parties, referring to history and main options of these parties. Vice-Speaker insisted on the fact that LDP had a focus on economic liberalisation, while DPJ tried to keep the balance between economic growth, state responsibility and citizens' aspirations. Interparliamentary meeting Political situation in Japan and the EU and multilateral issues Mr Matsuda presented the major challenges facing Japan: constitutional reform, sustainability of the pensions systems and reform of the institutional structure for social security, Mr Jarzembowski expressed concern at the lack of commitment to Kyoto by US and China, insisting that China cannot claim that it is a developing country any more. He mentioned that another major multilateral issue was at risk, namely the WTO negotiations, fearing that the Doha Development agenda was going into deadlock. Bilateral FTA agreements were being prepared with many important partners, and this was detrimental, not positive for global free trade progress. Regarding the reform of the constitution, Mr Jarzembowski and Mr Newton-Dunn analysed some of the lessons of the failure of the referendums in Europe. Mr Harbour expressed his concern at the slow progress towards the EU-Japan science and technology Agreement. Mr Nakagawa (DPJ) insisted on the need to transfer environmental technology to Japan's neighbours as part of an economic process based on market principles. He reminded that the referendum will only be organised based on a text adopted by more than 65% of members of each Chamber, which requires consensus building, a point which has not been attained yet, and that strict neutrality requirements apply for civil service, in particular education and public force. Mr Ford commented on the perspectives for a "mini-treaty" as a way to avoid the risky process of referendum. He mentioned the progress of CFSP, in particular the Rapid Deployment Force and EU's participation in peace operations in Africa (Congo) and Asia (Aceh). He mentioned EU's engagement with North Korea. Mr Inuzuka (DPJ) mentioned the unanimous vote by Japan's House of Councillors to ratify the accession to the International Criminal Court, and efforts to have the use of nuclear weapons considered as a crime. Mr Fatuzzo presented the ongoing reflection for harmonising the efforts towards sustainable pension systems throughout the EU, and inquired what solutions Japan is considering. Mr Tsushima exposed the current levels of contribution and payment applicable to workers as well as spouses, and the current debate over the long-term sustainability of the pension scheme confronted to aging population and careers changing from life-time employment towards more flexible patterns involving several employers and statuses. Mr Eda (DPJ) criticised the process followed by the LDP for the reform of the constitution making it the subject of party politics rather than consensus building. Mr Gotôda (LDP) highlighted the intensity of dialogue efforts in all aspects between European countries compared with the low level existing in Japan regarding relations with its neighbours. He expressed interest in the engagement policy towards North Korea, and in the management of foreign work within the social security system. CR\784834EN.doc PE 424.320 Mrs Resetarits corrected some of Mr Gotôda's comments as somehow over-optimistic. Mrs Komiyama praised the European family-friendly social allowances system, and the work- life balance, allowing for a better birth rate. Mr Jarzembowski informed that Germany is moving towards this kind of system, inspired by the French and Scandinavian models. He hinted at the fact that a higher employment rate by women would limit the pressure for an influx of foreigners. Contrary to previous speakers, Mrs Kaufmann spoke in favour of constitutional referenda as the way to involve the people, saying that the failure in France and the Netherlands were the result of tactical mistakes in the "yes" campaigns rather than a consequence of the institution of referendum itself, and reminded that there had been successful referendums also, eg. in Spain. Situation in the Middle East Mr Pascu exposed the risks of deterioration in Iraq and Afghanistan but also in Pakistan, and exposed the positions of EP regarding Iraq and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Mrs Maruya (Komeito) insisted on the need to foster confidence-building measures at civil society level and highlighted the room for Euro-Japanese cooperation in humanitarian aid. EU and Japan should jointly put pressure to foster dialogue between USA and Iran on all subjects including Iraq. Mr Jarzembowski pointed at the complexity of the situation and the difficulty to deal with terrorist organisations with the tools of country-to-country diplomacy. Dialogue is only possible if all sides agree to start it and accept its basic preconditions. Mr Haraguchi recalled that the DPJ had opposed Japan's involvement in Iraq's invasion and criticised the behaviour of the USA in the country, both in terms of its military and reconstruction policies. He insisted that the harm caused by radiations in nuclear experiments and incidents had been underestimated. Mr Newton-Dunn mentioned the peace process in Northern Ireland, insisting that the existence of the EU had been an essential argument to support reconciliation. He expressed pessimism about the situation in Middle East, as fundamental Islam is incompatible with democracy and human rights, and as Israel would certainly strike first before Iran attains the level of producing a nuclear bomb. Mrs Resetarits insisted that the conflict in the Palestinian territories was fuelled by the siege conditions imposed by Israel, and that the living conditions in Gaza were the main reason for radicalism. Mr Ford declared that Iran's development of nuclear weapons would probably not have been started had not Israel already a stock of over 100 nuclear weapons, developed through US help or at least blessing. Mr Inuzuka asked how development aid could contribute to the stability of Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr Jarzembowski answered that aid could work only as part of a stabilised political situation, or at least a direction commonly agreed by the different sides in conflict. FTA/EPA and Energy policy Mr Harbour highlighted the importance of services in the production of wealth and in international trade. He pointed out that open competition was needed in this area, in particular CR\784834EN.doc PE 424.320 regarding financial services and the legislative framework, in particular regarding acquisitions and mergers. Rules on public procurement, as well as the ability for research and development entities to take part in pilot contracts are an important point for future integration of Japan and EU economies. Mr Jarzembowski quoted the ongoing work on emission trading for aviation in the EU and pointed to its possible international implications. He also mentioned the question of an EU/Japan aviation agreement to replace the existing bilateral agreements, mentioning the achievements reached between the EU and USA. Mr Kosugi exposed the energy-efficiency schemes in Japan. Eco-taxes have not been introduced, but there is a strong promotion of energy-efficient equipments, in particular through labelling of most effective products. Japan is eager at promoting environment- friendly lifestyles. Mr Matsuda reminded that the reduction target for Japan under the Kyoto protocol was 6%. He mentioned nuclear power as the most efficient way to limit CO2 emissions, even if it was not accounted for as such. Mr Shiokawa (Communist Party) mentioned the importance of protecting the rights of workers and fighting poverty. He pointed out that Japan was the only OECD country where poverty was raising.