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Published:
Overall sustainability governance
Committee:
Sustainability & Social Responsibilitystatus:
NewJapan under former Prime Minister Suga joined other countries in announcing that Japan will be carbon neutral by 2050. While the announcement was met with fanfare at the time, some of the momentum seems to have been lost. Not only where there no immediate follow-up, but concrete implementation has been slow.
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Published:
Climate action, responsible consumption and production
Committee:
Sustainability & Social Responsibilitystatus:
NewTo decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, increase resource efficiency and promote sustainable lifestyles, Japan needs to invest in renewable energy or energy savings technologies and align its business models to circular-based-economy through government promotion as well. Regarding responsible consumption and production, despite efforts on food loss and waste reduction, additional actions are still needed to further reduce food waste: it is estimated that 5.22 million tons of food waste is still produced annually in Japan.
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Published:
Gender equality
Committee:
Sustainability & Social Responsibilitystatus:
NewJapan, known to have the world’s highest rate of seniority, also has one of the fastest population declining paces in the world. Its economy is bound to drastically change in the following decades due to a decrease in population of 30 million by 2050. The Sustainability & Social Responsibility committee of the EBC supports Prime Minister Kishida’s “New Capitalism” encouraging investment in human capital as one of the main pillars of his growth strategy. We expect that this initiative will result into a more inclusive Japanese economy.
The EBC President Michael Mroczek handed over the 2022 EBC White Paper to Mr. Reinhard Bütikofer, Member of the European Parliament
The EBC President Michael Mroczek handed over the 2022 EBC White Paper to Mr. Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet of European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis
The EBC President Michael Mroczek gave a keynote speech at a seminar on “Business Environment and Expansion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan”
Events Calendar
September 5, 2022
The EBC met with Keidanren Chairman Masakazu Tokura
September 2, 2022
EBC statement on the public offering system for offshore wind power generation
July 11, 2022
EBC Statement on Passing of Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
June 10, 2022
Joint Statement on Japan’s Entry Restrictions
UPDATES
EBC Newsletter – March 23, 2023
From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, On Monday 20 March, Michael Mroczek, President of the EBC, gave a keynote speech at a seminar on “Business Environment and Expansion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan”, co-organised by MOFA, MET
23 March, 2023
- 22 August, 2022
30 June, 2022
30 May, 2022
26 April, 2022
DIGITAL WHITE PAPER
Kindly sponsored by CHANEL
NEW ISSUES
URGENT ISSUES
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Published:
COVID-19
Committee:
Logistics & FreightOver a year after its outbreak COVID19 continues to affect the logistics sector. With travel restrictions all over the world, and in particular in Japan, operations are hampered. There is a need for transparent and long-term regulations and guidelines.
RESOLVED ISSUES
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Published:
Airport infrastructure
Committee:
Transportation & Communicationsstatus:
ResolvedThe EBC encourages the continued opening up of HND airport slots. In addition, improved “on or near airport” facilities, including for catering and cargo are needed. The new air corridor at HND will enable a reduction in fuel consumption through a more direct approach, which will have a positive impact on the environment.
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Published:
Travel restrictions
Committee:
Cross-Committee Issuesstatus:
ResolvedThe EBC fully understands and supports the Japanese government’s efforts to try to stem the spread of Covid-19 among the residents of Japan. However, it cannot be emphasised enough that European firms, as well as Japanese and other non-Japanese firms, have been suffering for months because they have not been able to bring in essential personnel from overseas. This is true both for specialists — such as engineers, researchers, and medical personnel — and for those in top management positions.
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Published:
Operational Safety Clause (OSC) and public procurement
Committee:
Railwaysstatus:
ResolvedJapan and the EU are both signatories to the WTO’s Plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). Despite this, Japan exempts railway procurement from the provisions of the GPA. The EBC understands that the EU-Japan EPA will open up railway related procurement to EU manufacturers no more than one year after the agreement enters into force. The EBC welcomes this and is also pleased that more cities will open up their procurement market to EU suppliers.
NEWS FEED
- Japan outlaws ‘stealth marketing’ (News on Japan)
- Govt Aims to Have Insurance Cover Expenses for Childbirth (The Japan News)
- Japan companies applaud EU deal that allows e-fuel car sales after ’35 (The Asahi Shimbun)
- EU Countries Approve 2035 Phaseout of CO2-Emitting Cars (The Japan News)
- Japan to Join International Framework on Surveillance Technology Exports (The Japan News)
- Japan to crack down on social media stealth marketing from October (Japan Today)
- Relocated Japan Cultural Affairs Agency opens in Kyoto (Japan Today)
- TEPCO unit acquires rights to develop wind farms off Scotland (The Mainichi)
- Online Passport Renewal Applications Start in Japan (The Japan News)
- Relocated Japan Cultural Affairs Agency opens in Kyoto (The Mainichi)
- Over 30％ of Major Japanese Firms Plan to Hire More Graduates (The Japan News)
- Japan firms see global inflation risk as major headwind for fiscal 2023 (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan core consumer prices rise 3.1% in February (Kyodo News+)
- Japan unveils fresh ¥2 tril inflation relief package (Japan Today)
- Gov’t to spend additional ¥2 trillion to ease inflation pain (Japan Today)
- OECD raises global growth forecast but recovery ‘fragile’ (Japan Today)
- Wood buildings catching on in trend toward decarbonization (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Kishida: 85% of male employees on child care leave in 2030 (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Japan, U.K., Italy push joint fighter jet development by 2035 (The Asahi Shimbun)
- Companies in Japan obliged to accommodate disabled from April 2024 (The Mainichi)
- VW joins e-car price war as global rivalry heats up (Japan Today)
- Sake exports set record high in 2022 for 13th year in row (Japan Today)
- Japan revises GDP to nearly flat, showing fragile recovery (Japan Today)
- Japan Businesses Call for Security Clearance System (The Japan News)
- Japan logs record deficit in January on energy, slower export growth (Japan Today)
- Japan Oct.-Dec. GDP downgraded to annualized real 0.1% (The Mainichi)
Join & Support
EBC members can not only learn about important changes taking place in Japan, but also play a critical role in influencing change themselves.
Some 300 of the over 2,500 affiliated local European companies and individuals participate directly in one or more of the EBC’s 22 industry committees covering a wide variety of economic sectors.