Procurement

Committee:
Defence & Security
status:
Some progress
Published:
The EBC welcomes the increasing cooperation between Japan and European countries in defence equipment and technology, including joint development and production. Japan has also strengthened its institutional framework for cooperation with European partners, including through defence equipment and technology transfer agreements with the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Nevertheless, opportunities for European companies to participate in Japanese defence procurement remain uneven across domains and programmes. The EBC believes that greater transparency and openness in procurement would further broaden Japan’s supplier base and strengthen long-term defence-industrial cooperation with Europe.

Recommendations

  • The Government of Japan should regard the use of European defence and/or dual-use equipment as an important part of strengthening security cooperation with European nations and further widen its supplier base. The Government of Japan should promote greater opportunities for European companies to participate in procurement, joint development and production, including under the current Defense Buildup Program (FY2023–FY2027) and beyond. A more diverse supplier base would strengthen Japan’s defence-industrial resilience and create further opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between European and Japanese industries.