Outcome of 19th Japan-EU ICT Dialogue and Japan-EU Internet Security Forum

1.19th Japan-EU ICT Dialogue

  The “Japan-EU ICT Dialogue” has been held periodically on the overall ICT policy between the MIC and the European Commission (Directorate-General for Communications Network, Content and Technology)
  At the 19th Dialogue, the MIC and the European Commission talked about a wide variety of topics concerning the field of ICT following the Ministerial Dialogue on ICT between Japan and EU held in May 2012 and the joint statement on policy cooperation between the two sides in the field of ICT announced after the Ministerial Dialogue.
  The outline is as follows.

  (1) Policy issue regarding the Internet
  Japan and EU exchanged opinions on the trends of discussions on Internet policy issues and concurred that the two sides continue to cooperate in future multilateral meetings, such as the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which will be held in December 2012, with a view to building a global consensus that the free flow of information on the Internet should not be unfairly restricted.
  (2) Cloud computing service
  Japan and EU exchanged opinions on the latest trends of their policies in order to promote cloud computing services and measures for further promoting cooperation between the two sides, and concurred that the two sides continue information sharing in the future.
  (3) Cooperation on research and development in the area of ICT
  Information on the framework of R&D in Europe and Japanese policies for ICT technology was shared. In addition, with respect to the promotion of international joint research and development,　Japan and EU confirmed the current state of cooperation in coordinated call between them, and concurred that the two sides continue to have discussions toward further promotion of cooperation such as by holding workshop.
  (4) Response to super-aged society utilizing ICT
  Japan and EU shared information on their policy trends and best practices related to the response to the super-aged society utilizing ICT, and concurred that the two sides continue to have discussions in the future.
  (5) Others
  Japan and EU exchanged information and opinions by sharing their policy trends and best practices on undertakings toward developing a safer Internet environment for children, promotion of broadband roll-out, and user information and privacy on ICT services, such as the handling of user information on smartphones. The two sides concurred that they continue to exchange information and opinions on these agendas.
 
  (Reference) Attendees in the 19th Policy Dialogue
  Japanese delegation: Shun Sakurai, Director-General of the Global ICT Strategy Bureau, the MIC, et al.
  EU delegation: Zoran Stančič, Deputy Director General, the Director-General for Communications Network, Content and Technology, the European Commission, et al.
 

2.Japan-EU Internet Security Forum

  The MIC and the European Commission concurred to hold the “Japan-EU Internet Security Forum,” as an opportunity for exchanging information on policy and technical trends related to ensuring Internet security, as Japan and EU share the recognition that it is important to ensure Internet security in order to secure the free flow of information on the Internet and address the increasing economic impact of cyber attacks at the Ministerial Dialogueon ICT held in May 2012. It was held recently.

  Related ministries and agencies, including the National Information Security Center (NISC) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), as well as the MIC, participated in this forum. In addition, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) made a proposal on security policy, etc. (“Aiming to Strengthen Japan-EU Collaboration for Internet Policies”) as a representative of the Japanese industry.
  In this forum, Japan and EU exchanged information and opinions on:
  (1) Policy trends related to Internet security;
  (2) Best practices on Internet security of Japan and EU (R&D on technologies for prediction of and quick response to cyber attacks, security measures for smartphones, etc.) ;
  (3) Critical infrastructure protection and public-private information sharing in Japan and EU;
  (4) Awareness-raising activities for Internet security by Japan and EU; and
  (5) On-line privacy in EU.

  Japan and EU each other reconfirmed the importance of promoting international cooperation in order to make efforts for securing Internet security through the discussions at this forum.

  (Reference) Attendees in Japan-EU Internet Security Forum
  Japanese delegation: Shun Sakurai, Director-General, the Global ICT Strategy Bureau, the MIC; Yasuo Sakamoto, Director-General for Policy Planning the MIC; NISC; METI, et al.
  EU delegation: Paul Timmers, Director, Direction H: Sustainable and Secure Society, the Director-General for Communications Network, Content and Technology, the European Commission, et al.
 

3.Future plans

  A meeting for continuing and materializing the cooperation between Japan and EU in the field of ICT will be held in Brussels in 2013 based on the achievements of this meeting and future efforts.
 
  (Reference) “Aiming to Strengthen Japan-EU Collaboration for Internet Policies”