EU and Japan boost strategic cooperation on digital and on critical raw materials supply chains

The strategic partnership between the EU and Japan continues to grow and to become even more dynamic, as the two partners are strengthening their cooperation in areas of high economic potential, which contribute to economic resilience and security in the current geopolitical context and accelerated technological shifts.
On 13 July, in the context of the EU-Japan summit, the leaders welcomed:

• The signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation to support secure and resilient submarine cable connectivity and a Memorandum of Cooperation on semiconductors at the first Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council meeting on 3 July. The EU and Japan confirmed their shared goal of advancing digital to foster economic growth and promote a human-centric digital transformation based on shared democratic principles and fundamental rights.
• The signing of the Administrative Arrangement between the Commission and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) on 6 July, aiming at reinforcing cooperation on critical raw materials supply chains.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Economic security is a common concern for Japan and the EU. We share similar dependencies, and we both need to de-risk our supply chains. One of our objectives is to reduce overreliance for products that are vital for our economies, like critical raw materials and semiconductors on a handful of suppliers – many of them based in China. I am very pleased that we have concluded cooperation arrangements on both topics. We have so much to gain by working together on this.”
Source: European Commission
 

Published: October 2023