| Dear Friends of the EBC,
It’s been a busy week with a wide variety of events.
On 4 and 6 December, I attended our virtual European Business Organizations WorldWide Network meeting with most of my 51 colleagues from all continents. These meetings, in person or online, are opportunities to learn and share best practices to help European companies export and grow on foreign markets. We also receive detailed information on the latest European policies and programmes from EU commission officials, this time from Outi Slotboom, Director for Strategy and Economic Analysis, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs (DG GROW), Antti Karhunen, Director, Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and Zrinka Reisinger, Head of Sector, Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). Our next meeting will be held in person in Brussels in June 2024. |
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| On 7 December, the EBC Medical Equipment & In Vitro Diagnostics Committee organised an information exchange meeting at and with the kind support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan. It was opened by Jeffrey Annis, President of Biotronik and EBC Chair of the Regulatory Affairs Sub-committee, and speeches followed from our host, Theo Peters, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy, Masami Sakoi, Vice-Minister for Health, Chief Medical & Global Health Officer, MHLW, Shinya Tsuruta, Medical Device Policy Office Manager, MHLW, Nobuhiko Watanabe, Director, Medical and Assistive Device Industries Office, METI. The Kampai was raised by Hideaki Mori, President, Siemens Healthineers Japan. We would like to thank Shoji Toyofuku and his team for the wonderful organisation! |
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| On 7 December, the Delegation of the European Union to Japan held its end-of-year party and invited its Japanese and foreign partners. It was a great opportunity for the EBC team to have more time to casually chat or to go into details regarding a few of our current issues with the European embassy team. These parties are also great to meet again or get to know Japanese officials and other guests and take appointments for the coming weeks. Thank you to Ambassador Paquet for the invitation! |
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Finally, let me share with you 2 more pieces of information:
- The Delegation of the European Union to Japan has launched a business survey under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Facility Instrument regarding the fifth year of EPA implementation. The objectives of this short survey are to identify existing regulatory barriers that hamper EU exports to Japan and the needs for developing or aligning new standards or technical regulations which would facilitate and enhance trade between the EU and Japan. If you are directly affected by the problem, don’t hesitate to reply! The survey can be found at the following link : https://eu.research.net/r/HM3LTPZ (deadline:18 December 2023)
- From 13 to 15 March 2024, the Smart Manufacturing Summit will be held in Aichi, Nagoya. Called “From Industry 4.0 to 5.0, build the future of manufacturing together with the European market”, it will be the place to create a vision for Industry 5.0 and to find cross-national partners to realise that vision.
The EBC team is looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Valerie Moschetti
EBC Chief Operating Officer |
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- The Japanese government plans to calculate the amount of “blue carbon,” or carbon dioxide absorbed by seaweed and sea grass, as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The plan was revealed by Japanese Environment Minister Shintaro Ito at a ministerial meeting in Dubai on Saturday at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28. (The Japan News)
- The labor ministry said Monday it plans to give workers benefits of up to 80% of their salaries when they take unpaid leave for reskilling. The ministry aims to make it easier to learn new skills and earn more for those working at companies without any paid leave system for reskilling. (The Japan News)
- A group of synthetic organofluorine chemical compounds known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been causing concern, as local governments have been researching and responding to findings of toxic compounds in rivers and wells nationwide. (The Japan News)
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Upcoming EBC Committee Meetings |
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| Date |
Committee |
Time / Location |
| Dec 13 (Wed) |
Legal Services |
TBC
1200~ |
| Dec 19 (Tue) |
Sustainability & Social Responsibility |
Hybrid
0930~ |
| Dec 21 (Thu) |
Telecommunications Equipment |
Web
1000~ |
If you are interested in joining a committee meeting, please contact the EBC to confirm the time and meeting place. |
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