Third Meeting of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council Held
- Published:
On May 12, 2025, the Third Meeting of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council took place in Tokyo at the Digital Agency. The Meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Taira, Minister for Digital Transformation, Mr. Adachi, State Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), and Mr. Takeuchi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), alongside Ms. Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.
Main results of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council
Key points of the Joint Statement are as follows:
1. Boosting competitiveness, innovation and resilience in emerging technologies through advancing cooperation in research and innovation
- Semiconductors
Both sides confirmed their interest in collaborative research on finding safe and sustainable alternatives for chemicals such as PFAS in semiconductor manufacturing, on heterogeneous integration (*) and chiplets, as well as on devices and processes beyond 2nm technology. Both sides are committed to exploring the opportunity of collaborative research on these topics in the near future.
*heterogeneous integration: a manufacturing technique in which different types of semiconductor chips are integrated into a single package. - 5G, Beyond 5G/6G
A Japan-EU joint research project, called “6G MIRAI-HARMONY”, began in April 2025. Both sides recognised the importance of the joint research project, and considering the progress of the above-mentioned project, they confirmed that further collaborative research on Beyond 5G/6G is to be considered in the future.
In relation to 5G, recognising the progress in the development of Open RAN in Japan and EU, both sides reconfirmed the importance of open and secure networks and promoting secure and diverse supply chains. - Quantum Technology
Both sides welcomed the launch of a targeted research call for collaborative projects on quantum computing which addresses advanced algorithms and codes for academic and industrial applications. They also welcomed the signature of the Letter of Intent on strengthening cooperation in the area of quantum science and technology between the European Commission on behalf of the European Union and the Cabinet Office of Japan and shared their commitment to further enhance cooperation in the quantum field.
Both sides look forward to the research project that has been selected, and to the results of the cooperation and welcomed the exchange of views on quantum communications technologies.
2. Leadership in shaping global digital governance and innovation for a human-centric and values-based approach
- Artificial Intelligence（AI）
Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting innovation and safe, secure and trustworthy AI as well as working towards signing an Administrative Arrangement for further cooperation on AI.
Both sides reaffirmed the need to further advance the Hiroshima AI Process outcomes, to expand its outreach beyond the G7 and to continue exchanging information in the context of international AI governance initiatives. - Digital Identities and Trust Services
Both sides continued the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation on Digital Identities and Trust Services to contribute to the implementation of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) and welcomed the progress made towards concrete use cases.
To pave the way for interoperability and mutual recognition of academic credentials , both sides welcome the formulation of a scoping document based on which a pilot project could be launched to assess the technical feasibility. Through the project, both sides aim to demonstrate how cross-border interoperability could be ensured among countries with different governance and technological architectures. - Data Governance
For improved data sharing, both sides began exchanges towards a possible joint working group. The working group will facilitate practical discussions on improved data sharing, including interoperability between common European data spaces and Japanese data spaces, for example in the automotive sector with the involvement of the private sector such as industry associations. Both sides envisage to explore measures that strengthen Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) as a means to build more resilient and reliable supply chains. - Protection of Personal Data
Both sides confirmed the steady progress in the ongoing talks to expand the scope of the EU adequacy decision for Japan to academia and research as well as to the public sector. Both sides welcomed the Joint Press Statement in which they confirmed that such talks have particularly advanced in the area of academia and research with the two sides confirming their commitment to progress within the next months with a view to concluding talks swiftly. - Online Platforms
Both sides reemphasised the commitment to ensuring a safe online environment where the fundamental rights of users are protected. To that end, regulatory exchanges took place on effective online platform governance.
Both sides confirmed their intention to deepen this cooperation in discussions between the Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology.
Both sides continued their close cooperation to promote fair and contestable digital markets by holding regular technical exchanges on Japan’s “Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software” and the EU’s “Digital Markets Act”.
Both sides confirmed their intention to deepen and formalise this cooperation by working towards signing an Administrative Arrangement between the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition.
3. Enhancing economic security by promoting resilience in digital critical technologies
- Cybersecurity
Both sides welcomed expert cooperation on standard development activities for the Cyber Resilience Act and Japan’s IoT labelling scheme JC-STAR to facilitate the implementation of product security on Japanese and EU markets and acknowledged that in order to address the cybersecurity of Internet of Things products in its entirety, both technical and non-technical nature of cyber threats should be taken into account.
They also welcomed the work on the SBOM Global Joint Guidance. Moreover, both sides advanced cooperation to enhance cybersecurity skills of the Indo-Pacific Region through the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week together the US.
Both sides welcomed the fact that the next edition of the Cyber Dialogue that would be held in Brussels, and the International Cybersecurity Challenge in Tokyo in 2025. - Submarine Cables
Both sides reinforced the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation on submarine cables for secure, resilient and sustainable global connectivity.
Both sides confirmed their intention to continue the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation on submarine cables through support actions that could include awareness raising, financial support (subject to the availability of resources), demand aggregation, and as appropriate, facilitating relevant administrative processes. - Semiconductors
On the economic security aspects of semiconductors, both sides enhanced the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation on semiconductors.
Both sides confirmed their intention to further continue cooperation to maintain resilient and reliable semiconductor supply chains including through the established joint mechanisms as well as in the G7 semiconductors Point of Contact group for instance by tackling risks posed by non-market policies and practices.
4. A collaborative path of joint leadership in digital technologies under the Japan-EU Digital Partnership
Both sides will continue the work in all areas identified at the third Digital Partnership Council. Both sides confirmed their intention to take stock of the progress they will have achieved at the fourth Digital Partnership Council to be held in Brussels in 2026.
Bilateral Meeting with the Executive Vice-President of European Commission
A bilateral meeting was held between Digital Minister Taira and Executive Vice-President Virkkunen. During the meeting, they confirmed that this Partnership has achieved steady results supported by the strong collaboration between Japan and the EU and affirmed that continuing these positive efforts would be beneficial for both sides.
Both sides affirmed the importance of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) and exchanged views on advancing joint projects, including through leveraging the Institutional Arrangement for Partnership (IAP) established under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Regarding digital identity, they confirmed that, based on the Memorandum of Cooperation on Digital Identities and Trust Services signed at the previous meeting, they would launch a pilot project concerning interoperability of academic credentials and welcome the formulation of a scoping document of the pilot project. In addition, they exchanged views on respective policies related to the safe utilisation of AI in national government.
