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Japanese Perception of EU
Japanese Perception of EU
What is your image of EU?
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
Europe does not exist without non-Europe
It is necessary to have an external relation in order to understand European Union
It is effective to improve EU-Japan relationship by understanding some points which is left untapped or unfulfilled
The importance of this survey
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
The monitoring of three daily news papers.
・ Yomiuri Newspaper ( 読売新聞 )・ Nikkei Newspaper (Business Newspaper)・ Japan Times (English Newspaper)
Methodology
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
A total of 1786 news items were identified. Highly encouraging number suggested that the EU has a significant profile within the Japanese print media. ・ Yomiuri Newspaper ２６９・ Nikkei Newspaper ９１１・ Japan Times ６０６
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
Positive 8.5%Neutral 76.5%
Where reporting was not neutral in tone, negative evaluations were more common than positive ones, with a two-to-one ratio overall.However, Economic issues are criticized more negatively than positively.
State of Economy-the sovereign debt crisis, the state of the world economy, Euro exchange rate.
Business/Finance-investment and banking
Trade-implications of sovereign debt crisis for international trade, potential for an FTA/EPA between JP &EU
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
The selected interviewees were identified from various field.
Media elites editors, news directorsCivil society members representatives of non-governmental organization Business respondents members of national round-tables, official networks, leaders of national trades
Sampling Strategy for the Elite
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
Two issues that elite had felt had the most direct impact on EU relations were…Sovereign debt crisis and the prospect for an EU-Japan FTA/EPA
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview
The significant correlation between the content of the print media and the views of the elite interviewees on two issues.
FTA (Free Trade Agreement) / EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement)
Important for EU-Japan relation External Politics of EU EU as diplomatic and
Normative Actor
Action Plan to promote EU-Japan relation
In 2001, both EU and Japan affirmed their intention to translate the Japan-EU partnership into coordinated policies and concrete actions.
“Action plan for EU-Japan Cooperation”・ This Action Plan was intended to operate for 10 years・ Four main objectives: promoting peace and security
strengthening the economic and trade partnership FTA/EPA coping with global and social challenges bringing together people and cultures
Significant untapped trade potential
The EU-Japan relationship has vast untapped economic potential.The bilateral trade relationship between EU and Japan is important for both economics.
For Japan, EU is…・ 3rd most significant import partner (10%)・ 3rd most significant export partner (12%)
For EU, Japan is…・ 6th most significant import partner (4%)・ 6th most significant export partner (3.2%)
Significant untapped trade potential
If tariffs were abolished, it is estimated that… EU exports to Japan
could increase by 23% (€ 14billion)
Japan’s export to EU could increase by 30% (€25billion)・ It was hoped that the election of the Democratic Party of Japan in 2009, the enactment of the Lisbon Treaty and 10-year anniversary of the Action Plan would realize the further development of EU-Japan relation.However, because of the sovereign debt
crisis in Europe, the dissipation of the optimism about the DPJ and 3/11 crises in Japan, there has been no progress of EU-Japan relation…
A brief overview of recent development
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Action Plan, an attempt was maid in 2011 to inject fresh momentum into EU-Japan relation
・ A deep and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement/ Economic Partnership Agreement・ A binding agreement, covering political, global and other sectorial cooperation in comprehensive manner
A brief overview of recent development
On 31 May, European Commission announced that it had finally ended it “scoping exercise” for a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement of Japan.
・ The 27 trade ministers, who met the same day in Brussels, did not give the Commission a mandate to open formal negotiations.
・ The European Parliament has asked the Council not to authorize the opening of trade negotiations with Japan until MEPs (Member of European Parliament) state their own position on the proposed negotiating mandateStill difficult to launch negotiation
In terms of economy, EU-Japan relation is stable. (There is not big promotions)
Normative and Diplomatic Power of EU
Normative and Diplomatic Power of EU
Based on European Ideas of… LibertyDemocracyRespect for human rightsRule of law
Setting Standards to the World
Normative Power of EU
３ Stages on EU normative power?
1. Attractiveness of the European ideas
2. Diplomatic Strategy to spread the ideas
3. Type of agenda each polity adopt to implement these ideas.
Japanese News Papers on EU Normative Power
Normative international political actor
= 300articles
Covered wide range of activities in various countries and regions.
Main Actor
Evaluated Positively unlike as an Economical Actor
Wide Range of Normative Activities
ExamplesHuman Rights Diplomacy ⇒ To Potential EU member Countries
Monitoring Elections ⇒ Africa
Contribution to Arab Spring Countries
Non-proliferation diplomacy in Iran → Stopping the further spread of nuclear and chemical weapons
Wide Range of Normative Activities
ExamplesMiddle East Process (Israeli-Palestinian
Issues)
Disaster Relief Aid to Japan ・ Rescue Teams
・ 1.15 billon Yen
・ a large amount of relief supplies
Elite’s PerspectiveWhat type of great power? – overall
⇒ Both the Media & Elites take it significant!!
EU & Japan Joint Normative Initiative
International non-proliferation, and Hard & Soft Security Issues
EU & Japan Joint Normative Initiative
Joint support for “the Ottawa Convention of 1997” &
“International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation” →Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines / of Ballistic Missiles
Joint efforts for economic and social development of the Palestinian people, through Japan’s contribution to the EU’s PEGASE mechanism.
Joint promotion of Tajikistan-Afghanistan border management and cross-border cooperation in 2011/2012
holding European- Japanese seminars, training and workshop on post conflict nation-building in Africa.
Significant Untapped Normative Potential
Critics’ opinions on Japan-EU Relations →There has been NO defining project. Both countries are not putting all potential efforts.
Elites also suggested that … Joint Initiatives could form part of the basis for more substantial shared normative power agenda.
External or Internal on Politics
External 66%Internal 34%
• There was a significantly greater focus on the EU as an international political actor rather than on political issues within the EU
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Different Views on Political Power of EU
News Items Elites
Economic 64.5%Political 25%Social Af -fairs 5.5%Environ-ment 2.5%
QUESTION TO ELITES
“WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE VISIBILITY OF EU?”
Visibility of EU
1. EU Executive Ranking!!
Commission
President Barroso
46 mentions
High Representative Ashton
50 mentions
ECB President Trichet
90 mentions
High Representative Ashton
Catherine AshtonBorn in 1956
British Politician
In 2008, became a member of European Commission
In2009, became the first “High Representative of the European Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy” → It is called “the Foreign Minister of EU”
Evaluation of Catherine Ashton
Articles, mentioned Ashton, received highly positive evaluation, regardless of the topic categories.(22%:positive 16%:Negative)
the EU was main actor in the Article
Proving that Japan perceive the EU highly as a normative international political actor.
EUIJ(EU Institute in Japan)
What is the EUIJ??An academic center of studies and research on the European Union in Japan. Managed by 4 Uni
What do they do??Establish EU-related study and research opportunities, to provide information about the EU, and to enhance the general awareness of the EU and its policies in Japan.
EUIJ Waseda
Did you know??WASEDA University also has an independent EUIJ;EUIJ Waseda!!!!
AND!!The Deputy Director is
Questions
Should Japan continue to promote economic relation with EU, such as FTA/EPA, or focus on trades with other countries?
Should EU & Japan Joint Normative Initiative be expanded?
