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May 7, 2026 Results of the fourth meeting of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council

On May 5, 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), jointly with the Digital Agency and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), held the fourth meeting of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council in Brussels, Belgium.

The meeting was co-chaired on the Japanese side by Mr. Hayashi, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Mr. Matsumoto, Minister for Digital Transformation, and Mr. Ochi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and on the EU side by Ms. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. At the meeting, a joint statement was issued as an outcome of discussions between Japan and the EU.

Key points from the Joint Statement are as follows.

I. Data Governance and DFFT

  • ・　Data Strategy Working Group

    Recognising that seamless and secure data flows are foundational to the modern economy and essential for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), both sides decided to launch an "EU-Japan Data Strategy Working Group".

  • ・　Joint development and interoperability of Data Spaces

    Both sides deepened discussions on specific use cases for the joint development and interoperability of European data spaces and the Japanese data spaces.

  • ・　DFFT and International Cooperation

    Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to operationalising DFFT to counter digital protectionism and ensure open and trusted data flows.

  • ・　Digital Identity and Trust Services

    Both sides piloted the interoperability of digital identity credentials to confirm that they could be appropriately issued, stored, presented, and verified across different countries and regions.

  • ・　Electronic Signatures

    Both sides have initiated contact to deepen discussions on the verification of electronic signature service providers.

  • ・　Protection of Personal Data

    Both sides welcomed the successful conclusion of talks on expanding the scope of the EU adequacy decision on Japan to academia and research. They also confirmed their intention to intensify the talks regarding the extension of the adequacy decision to the public sector.

II. Innovation and Cutting-edge Technologies: AI and Quantum

  • ・　Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    Responsible AI Innovation: Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI as well as signing a Cooperation Arrangement.

    Global Governance: Both sides reaffirmed the need to continue exchanging information in the context of international AI governance initiatives and seeking to align positions in international forums, e.g. in the United Nations. Both sides will encourage more governments, including from the Global South, to support the principles of the Hiroshima AI Process and to join its Friends Group.

    Regulatory Cooperation: Both sides acknowledged the importance of strengthening cooperation to enhance mutual understanding of governance frameworks.

    Governmental AI: Both sides decided to exchange best practices on AI adoption in the public sector.

    AI Summits: Both sides welcomed cooperation between the EU and Japan regarding AI Summits, including toward the potential hosting of an AI Summit in Japan.

  • ・　Quantum Technology:

    Both sides welcomed the deepening of cooperation based on the Letter of Intent (LoI) on Strengthening Cooperation in the Area of Quantum Science and Technology, and committed to further strengthening collaboration in quantum research. Both sides welcomed the exchange of views on quantum communications technologies.

III. Secure Digital Infrastructure and Economic Security

  • ・　Submarine Cables

    Both sides welcomed the meetings of the Japan-EU Joint Working Group on Policy Issues for Global Connectivity and concurred on continuing the work of the Working Group.

  • ・　5G/6G

    Both sides welcomed the progress of the joint research project, called "6G-MIRAI-HARMONY". Both sides will enhance their collaboration on the international standardisation of future communication networks including 6G technology.

  • ・　Semiconductors

    Both sides confirmed the implementation of the MoC on Semiconductors. They committed to continuing the information exchange on supply chain resilience, including the effective use of the "Early Warning Mechanism" to anticipate and mitigate disruptions caused by geopolitical or natural factors.

  • ・　Cybersecurity

    Both sides welcomed the progress of the 7th EU-Japan Cyber Dialogue, held in January 2026. They committed to advancing cooperation on potential mutual recognition of cybersecurity schemes for IoT products, specifically working towards aligning Japan’s JC-STAR scheme and the EU’s requirements under the Cyber Resilience Act. Both sides will continue to cooperate on cyber capacity building in third countries, specifically in the Indo-Pacific through the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week and through the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre.

  • ・　Digital Standards

    Both sides welcomed the closer links between the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC).

IV. Platform Regulation

  • ・　Platform Cooperation

    They recognised the importance of protecting minors online affirming their commitment to promote appropriate policy measures and enforce applicable regulation, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) on the EU-side to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being and the rights of minors online. Both sides welcomed the Cooperation Arrangement between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) in their respective capacities as enforcers to deepen cooperation on issues of common interest relating to the implementation of the DSA and Japan’s Information Distribution Platform Act.

V. Way Forward

  • ・　New topics of discussion

    Both sides will pursue working level information exchange on video game and audiovisual strategies as well as industries.

  • ・　Industry Engagement

    Both sides confirmed that the Digital Partnership will increasingly progress towards the creation of concrete and substantial deliverables, necessitating the engagement of industry. Both sides started exploring the complementarities of the respective tech business offers to work towards joint activities in third countries, for example in the area of secure and trusted digital infrastructure.

  • ・　Multilateral cooperation

    Both sides concurred to cooperate together, and with other partners, in the pursuit of shared interests in the context of multilateral bodies emphasising shared interests such as robust multilateralism and openness to trade.

VI. Next Steps

Both sides decided to convene the 5th meeting of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council in Tokyo in 2027 to review progress and further deepen their strategic cooperation.

During the meeting

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Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

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