December 17, 2019 Results of 25th Japan-EU ICT Policy Dialogue and 9th Japan-EU ICT Strategy Workshop

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the European Commission held the 9th Japan-EU ICT Strategy Workshop in Tokyo on Wednesday, December 11, followed by the 25th Japan-EU ICT Policy Dialogue on Friday, December 13, 2019.

1. 25th Japan-EU ICT Policy Dialogue

1. Overview

MIC and the European Commission (In charge: The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology) has been holding Japan-EU ICT Policy Dialogue meetings on a regular basis.
In this round (the 25th round), discussions were held on a wide range of agenda items in the field of ICT, taking into account policy trends in both Japan and the European Union (EU).

2. Main achievements

1. International collaboration

Japan and the EU both explained future actions regarding the Japan-EU partnership on connectivity. Furthermore, Japan explained the results of the G20 Ibaraki-Tsukuba Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy, which was held in June this year, and other international conferences. Japan and the EU will continue cooperating in international frameworks, such as the G7 and G20 summits, while promoting cooperation in connectivity.

2. 5G

Both Japan and the EU explained the initiatives for launching 5G commercial services and 5G security initiatives. Japan and the EU and Japan will continue sharing the status of their efforts and promote cooperation.

3. Cybersecurity

The EU side explained the cybersecurity policy in the EU, including the Cybersecurity Act, which came into effect this June. Japan explained MIC’s cybersecurity initiatives. Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of their efforts and promote cooperation.

4. Standardization and international joint research

Japan explained the progress and future direction of Japan-EU collaboration in ICT international joint research and standardization. The EU side explained the development of new R & D schemes in Europe and international cooperation projects on standardization. Japan and the EU have decided to continue cooperation.

5. Regulatory reform

The EU side explained its initiatives, including platform regulations. Japan provided a comprehensive review of the telecommunications business field and described its response to fake news and digital market competition rules. Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of their efforts.

6. AI

Japan explained its recent AI-related initiatives, including AI utilization guidelines and new considerations for the promotion of data value measurement and distribution, as well as discussions on the AI principles at the G7, G20, and the OECD. The EU side explained its initiatives for reliable AI ethics guidelines and new AI policies. Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of their efforts and promote cooperation.

7. Trust services

The EU side explained the status of eIDAS rules and other initiatives related to trust services. Japan explained the institutionalization of trust services. Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of their efforts towards the achievement of interoperability and promote cooperation.

(Reference) Attendees at the 25th Japan-EU ICT Policy Dialogue
Japan: Vice-Minister Makiko Yamada for Policy Coordination of MIC, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretariat of the Headquarters for Digital Market Competition, and others.
EU: Deputy Director-General Khalil Rouhana (the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and others

2. 9th Japan-EU ICT Strategy Workshop

1. Overview

Prior to the Japan-EU ICT Policy Dialogue, the 9th Japan-EU ICT Strategy Workshop was held as a place for public and private parties to freely exchange opinions on important issues in the digital economy. With consideration of the policy trends of both Japan and the EU, along with issues in actual business situations, both sides mainly talked about the following matters:

2. Main achievements

  • 1.
    AI

    The EU side explained the AI policy of Europe. Japan explained the AI utilization guidelines and new measures for data value measurement and distribution promotion. EU and Japan will continue sharing the status of public and private initiatives and promote cooperation.

  • 2.
    Trust services

    Japan explained its efforts towards the institutionalization of trust services and the status of trust services in the private sector. The EU side explained the operation status of eIDAS rules. The EU and Japan will continue sharing the status of Japan-EU public-private initiatives for the achievement of interoperability and promote cooperation.

  • 3.
    Digital policy

    The Japanese side explained how Internet governance should be for a free and open Internet environment and information banks. The EU side explained the digital single market policy and blockchain initiatives under the new system. Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of public and private efforts and promote cooperation.

  • 4.
    Cybersecurity

    The EU side explained the cybersecurity efforts. Japan explained cybersecurity measures related to IoT. Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of public and private initiatives and promote cooperation.

  • 5.
    5G and autonomous driving

    The EU side explained the autonomous driving initiatives. Japan explained the 5G and autonomous driving initiatives. Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of public and private efforts.

  • 6.
    Standardization

    The EU side explained the status of cooperation with Japan in the INtegrated DIgital CoOnference (INDICO) project, an international standardization project. Japan explained the progress of collaboration in the INDICO project and the importance of standards in the ICT field. Japan and the EU will continue promoting cooperation in the INDICO project.

  • 7.
    Data economy

    Japan explained the initiatives for the cross-border distribution of personal data that has been secured. The EU side explained initiatives related to the cross-border distribution of personal data and certification schemes under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Japan and the EU will continue sharing the status of public and private initiatives and promote cooperation.

    (Reference) Attendees at the 6th Japan-EU ICT Strategy Workshop
    Japan: Vice-Minister Makiko Yamada for Policy Coordination of MIC, Ken Watanabe, Director-General for International Affairs of MIC’s Global ICT Strategy Bureau, officials of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Secretariat of the Personal Information Protection Commission, and members of the Federation of Economic Organizations, the Japan Association of New Economy, Information Technology Federation of Japan, related companies, and others
    EU: Deputy Director-General Khalil Rouhana (the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology), related companies, and others

Contact

For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html

International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

TEL: +81 3 5253 5920

FAX: +81 3 5253 5924