EU en Japan gaan gezamenlijk terrorisme bestrijden (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU and Japan have agreed to meet to discuss anti-terrorism co-operation "as soon as possible" as both sides seek to deepen political and trade ties.

Meeting with their Japanese counterparts today in Tokyo top Brussels officials announced that they would meet to discuss counter-terrorism measures at the first available opportunity.

The two sides also announced that they have agreed to encourage countries to sign up to a range of non-proliferation measures as well as a framework to enhance two-way investment.

The meeting was the thirteenth such summit of its kind, and as ever, strong trade links between the two sides were high on the agenda.

Japan is the EU's third largest market for exports while the EU is Japan's second. Collectively, the exports in both directions were worth around 120 billion euro a year.

Political will

But despite common political declarations political ties remain limited.

"We may be far away geographically but we continue to increase our contacts and co-operation on issues of common concern on the international stage" said Council President Bertie Ahern.

And the EU today encouraged Japan to become more politically engaged, as a potential ally in supporting a multilateral trade system.

Commission President Romano Prodi urged Japan to be more forthright: "Japan is a country which must have more self confidence", he said.

"Together we can do a lot" he added.