Council of the
European Union
Brussels, 11 October 2024
(OR. en)
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COPS 269
CONOP 40
CIVCOM 128
COARM 99
POLMIL 179
DUAL USE 45
COASI 74
POLCOM 194
EUMC 248
COMPET 553
CFSP/PESC 743
ESPACE 51
CSDP/PSDC 362
INDEF 31
POLMAR 22
COTER 105
CYBER 163
CT 57
HYBRID 77
ENFOPOL 401
DISINFO 72
CONUN 107
CSC 291
ATALANTA 27
COVER NOTE
From:
European External Action Service (EEAS)
To:
Delegations
Subject:
European Union - Japan Security and Defence Partnership (NBI Step 2)
DOCUMENT PARTIALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC (04.11.2024)
Delegations will find annexed the European Union - Japan Security and Defence Partnership (NBI
Step 2).
9941/24
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RELEX.5
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EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE
PCM.2 – Peace, Security and Defence Partnerships
11/10/2024
EEAS Reference
EEAS (2024) 1260
To
PMG/CIVCOM
Title / Subject
EU – Japan Security and Defence Partnership – Non-Binding
Instrument (NBI) Step 2
- Note for the Attention of the Council on a non-binding
instrument
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DELETED
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The European Union-Japan Security and Defence Partnership
[Preface]
1.
Europe and the Indo-Pacific are highly interconnected and interdependent. This
interdependence has geo-political, economic, and security dimensions. The European Union (EU) and
Japan face an increasingly chal enging and interlinked security environment as demonstrated by
unilateral at empts to change the status quo by force. Japan and the EU emphasize the need to uphold
and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and the respect for the
United Nations (UN) Charter.
At the same time, security is no longer limited to traditional military and defence-related topics, but
encompasses an increasingly broader range of closely linked dimensions, such as cyber and hybrid
threats, maritime and outer space, as wel as economic security.
2.
The strategic partnership between Japan and the EU is based on shared values and interests.
The Japan-EU Summit (Brussels, 13 July 2023) Joint Statement recognized that the security of
Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific are closely interlinked. It also reaffirmed the importance of a free
and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, prosperous, and secure, and protects shared principles
including sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, rule of law, human rights,
and fundamental freedoms. The Joint Statement cal ed to further develop the Japan-EU security
partnership, promoting increased cooperation on inter alia maritime security, cybersecurity, hybrid
threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), counter-terrorism,
disarmament, non-proliferation, and international peace cooperation.
3.
The EU and Japan have respectively adopted important strategic documents that wil guide
their security and defence policies for the years to come. The EU Strategy for Cooperation in the
Indo-Pacific adopted in 2021 and the EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence adopted in
2022 set out a clear vision for a more robust EU role in security and defence, with strong tailored
partnerships at its core. Japan formulated its National Security Strategy in 2022, which emphasized
the importance of enhancing security cooperation in order to build a multilayered network among its
ally and like-minded partners, including the EU. These strategic documents confirm the strong
strategic alignment between Japan and the EU.
4.
In this context, both Japan and the EU wil seize the momentum and opportunity to further
intensify cooperation to bet er meet shared chal enges. Therefore we wil seek to further develop,
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deepen and strengthen our cooperation and dialogue across the whole range of security and defence
topics, making use of existing frameworks, notably the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement
of'17 July 2018, as wel as stepping up efforts in other areas.
General Framework
5.
The EU and Japan have decided to establish and implement a tailor-made, mutually beneficial
Security and Defence Partnership, underpinned by a series of dialogue mechanisms to provide
steering and oversight:
◊ Making use of the annual Japan-EU Summit and the annual Japan-EU Strategic Dialogue at
foreign ministerial level (Japanese Foreign Minister with High Representative of the Union
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission) to
ensure the oversight of the security and defence relationship and provide guidance as
appropriate. Security and defence-related issues wil be a key component of the agenda of
the Japan-EU Strategic Dialogue.
◊ Upgrading the existing informal, regular consultations to an annual Japan-EU Security and
Defence Dialogue at Director-General / Managing Director level, to discuss the broad
strategic environment, thematic security and defence issues, to explore possible cooperation
and, as appropriate, to prepare outcomes for ministerial level meetings.
◊ Building on and continuing existing thematic structured dialogues on specific domains of
shared interest, including assessments of the security landscape and threats in the Indo-
Pacific, and exploring the establishment of thematic dialogues at Director level.
◊ These dialogues wil report to the annual Security and Defence Dialogue.
6.
The EU and Japan reaffirm the need to enhance their engagements in ensuring economic
resilience and economic security global y while maintaining and improving the international rules-
based system and preserving an open economy.
7.
The EU and Japan wil explore the possibility of a Japan-EU Agreement on the Security of
Information.
8.
The EU and Japan wil further develop their cooperation on security and defence, including
exploring opportunities for coordination of capacity building and support to other partners, and using
their programmes, such as the EU-funded Critical Maritime Routes in the Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO),
and ‘Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia’ (ESIWA) projects.
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9.
The EU and Japan wil cooperate in multilateral fora, including with other like-minded
partners in relevant areas.
Specific Areas of Cooperation
10.
In addition to discussing respective developments in security and defence policies and relevant
regional security as wel as strategic and geopolitical issues in order to bet er align each other’s policy,
Japan and the EU wil hold targeted dialogues and boost cooperation in areas such as:
Maritime Security, including operations and exercises
11.
The EU and Japan wil deepen exchanges on maritime security, aiming at promoting an open
and rules-based maritime regional security architecture, including secure sea lines of communication
and freedoms of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international law, in particular United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
12.
The EU and Japan wil enhance cooperation in the areas such as:
◊ promoting concrete naval cooperation, including through the Administrative Arrangement
between the EU’s Naval Force Atalanta (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) and the Japanese Self
Defence Forces (Joint Staff).
◊ developing cooperation on maritime security through activities (such as joint exercises, port
cal s, among others), including with the participation of mutual y designated third countries,
on a case by case basis.
◊ exploring cooperation in the framework of the EU’s Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP)
initiative, notably in the Northwest Indian Ocean
◊ exploring possible cooperation on maritime capacity building of third countries in Indo-
Pacific region.
Space security and defence
13.
The EU and Japan wil explore the possibility of expanding the existing EU-Japan Space
Policy Dialogue to include mat ers related to space security.
14.
The EU and Japan wil promote coordination of external engagement in
multilateral/plurilateral (including at the United Nations) and bilateral fora, notably to jointly promote
norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviour in outer space. In this regard, Japan and the EU
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will contribute to a joint panel discussion of the Disarmament and International Security Committee
(First Committee) and the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) to
address possible chal enges to space security and sustainability.
Cyber issues
15.
The EU and Japan wil deepen the existing Japan-EU Cyber Dialogue, including by enhancing
regular exchanges on the cyber security threat landscape, respective approaches and practical
cooperative efforts to coordinate diplomatic responses to malicious cyber activities, as well as by
coordination and alignment of cyber capacity building efforts.
16.
The EU and Japan wil continue to coordinate and cooperate at multilateral, regional and
bilateral levels, notably on the promotion of the UN framework for responsible State behaviour in
cyberspace and the establishment of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) to this end, as wel as on the
development and implementation of cyber confidence building measures in the ASEAN Regional
Forum.
Hybrid threats, including Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI)
17.
The EU and Japan wil deepen research and study on hybrid threats, including through close
cooperation between academic institutions, think tanks and centers of excel ence on both sides. Japan
and the EU welcome the establishment of the Strategic Communications Education and Research Unit
(SCERU) in the Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) at the University of Tokyo, with EU-
funded ESIWA's support, and wil explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation with the Unit.
18.
The EU and Japan wil share best practices in developing strategies and policies including
diplomatic responses to hybrid threats and wil participate in exercises organised by both sides as
appropriate.
19.
The EU and Japan wil proactively share information on threat assessment regarding foreign
information manipulation and interference (FIMI) such as malign influence operations through
bilateral exchanges, and explore the possibility for coordination and operational cooperation.
Non-Proliferation, Disarmament, conventional arms, including smal arms and light weapons
20.
The EU and Japan wil deepen consultations on non-proliferation, disarmament, conventional
arms, including smal arms and light weapons, in light of the Japan-EU Strategic Partnership
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Agreement.
21.
The EU and Japan wil promote shared awareness on key issues related to disarmament and
non- proliferation, bearing Japan’s Hiroshima Action Plan and the G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on
Nuclear Disarmament (2023) in mind.
22.
The EU and Japan wil promote coordination in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Biological and Toxin
Weapons Convention (BTWC), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and other key
multilateral instruments, as well as export control regimes.
23.
The EU and Japan wil promote enhanced dialogue among nuclear-weapon States towards
future possible nuclear arms control framework.
The EU and Japan defence initiatives, including exchange of information on defence industrial related
matters
24.
The EU and Japan wil conduct consultations on the development of respective defence
initiatives including exchange of information on defence industry-related mat ers. Japan and the EU
will explore possible mutual involvement in respective defence initiatives in line with the respective
processes.
Peace, conflict prevention and crisis management
25.
The EU and Japan wil explore possible areas of cooperation on peacekeeping, conflict
prevention and crisis management, such as exchanges on mediation and sharing of best practices,
cooperation in the field of CSDP, joint support to third states, and joint exercises and training, among
others.
26.
The EU and Japan wil enhance their coordination on shared priorities in peace, conflict
prevention and crisis management in multilateral fora, including UN bodies. Japan and the EU wil
exchange on respective contributions and support to UN Peacekeeping Operations.
Counter-terrorism (CT), preventing/counterinq violent extremism (P/CVE)
27.
The EU and Japan wil explore the potential for cooperation on CT related mat ers by
designing activities for greater interaction between CT-P/CVE entities, such as addressing the online
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dimension of radicalisation or the community policing approach to countering violent extremism.
28.
The EU and Japan wil promote coordination in multilateral and regional fora such as the
ASEAN Regional Forum.
Women Peace and Security
29.
The EU and Japan are commit ed to the full implementation of the Women, Peace and
Security (WPS) agenda, which consists of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR)
1325 and its follow-up resolutions, and wil ensure that gender equality is integrated in their areas of
cooperation on security and defence.
30.
Therefore, the EU and Japan wil exchange good practices on implementing women, peace
and security commitments, and continue close collaboration to ensure gender equality as a political
and security related priority and with an aim to reinforce joint responses to current and emerging
security and geopolitical shifts.
Way Forward
31.
The areas identified in the Security and Defence Partnership wil be reviewed regularly in the
framework of the Japan-EU Security and Defence Dialogue (Director-General/ Managing Director
level), which wil take stock of progress made, give further impetus, and report to the annual Japan-
EU Strategic dialogue at foreign ministerial level, as well as to the Summit, with a view to exploring
ways to further strengthen and develop the cooperation.
32.
The content of the Security and Defence Partnership wil be reviewed as appropriate.
(End)
