COMMITTEES

The European Business Council (EBC) has 23 committees devoted to improving the business environment for European companies in a variety of different sectors. Each EBC Committee is unique, reflecting the varied make-up of the EBC membership and the issues they deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Some committees have memberships constituting a significant share of the Japanese market and are officially recognized by the Japanese Government as a primary industry contact while others are devoted to increasing market access opportunities for their members. While a majority of the committees represents a sector or an industry segment, some address cross-sector issues such as human resources and taxation, which affect all firms in Japan, regardless of their line of business.

In general, EBC Committees perform a combination of the following functions:

• Identifying obstacles facing European companies doing business in Japan in their sector
• Promoting European interests in a particular issue area
• Liaising with relevant Government Ministries and other industry groups
• Responding to requests from the EBC Secretariat, the media, government representatives, and other organisations for information on the public policy work of European businesses in Japan

HOW DO THE EBC COMMITTEES WORK?

EBC Committees:

• Discuss regulatory developments and issues of common concern
• Visit Japanese government officials, write position papers and engage in media campaigns, when necessary.
• Provide briefings on the current state of their specific business sector for visiting European Commission officials and various European industry representatives
• Give presentations to governmental bodies and political parties upon request
• Hold symposiums, briefings, lectures and other events
• Contribute one chapter to the annual white paper
• Exchange sector-specific information
• Work closely with the EC commission and member state Embassy personnel to put the regulatory concerns also on their agenda
• Liaise with the EBC office to ensure that committee issues are inserted in to the general lobbying activities

List of Committees: