The new Strategic Partnership Agreement is the first-ever bilateral framework agreement between the EU and Japan. The Agreement’s primary role will be to serve as the charter defining and undergirding the overall relationship. The Agreement sets out an overarching framework for enhanced political and sectoral cooperation as well as joint actions on issues of common interest, including on regional and global challenges. 

At the core of the Strategic Partnership Agreement is a shared commitment to strengthen the rules-based global order and enhance global governance. The Agreement shows a strong joint commitment to defend multilateralism, the rule of law, democracy, respect for human rights, open markets, free and fair trade - key values which should form the basis of the international order. The Agreement will set the stage for increasing consultation and coordination in multilateral fora. The EU and Japan will work together to defend a rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core, promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate action and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.

The Agreement is also a solid framework for strong bilateral cooperation to enrich the political dimension of the partnership, take forward security cooperation and promote the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Strategic Partnership Agreement will cover all areas of existing sector cooperation, such as space, information and communication technologies, industrial policy, energy, transport, education, research and innovation. It will also open up the possibility for cooperation in new areas. The EU and Japan are now preparing for the first meeting in early 2019 of the Joint Committee established by the Strategic Partnership Agreement to coordinate the overall partnership and give strategic direction to the cooperation.

More information in the SPA factsheet.