Members of the European Economic and Social Committee's EU-Japan Follow-up Committee visited Japan to discuss the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and to strengthen cooperation with Japanese counterparts. The visit included a roundtable on the circular economy and the first EU-Japan Joint Dialogue with civil society under the EPA.
Eve Päärendson, president of the EU-Japan Follow-up Committee, commented: "The EU-Japan EPA is of major global importance".
Talking points included labour issues and the participation of women in the labour market, along with the potential of the circular economy to promote sustainable development.
Eve Päärendson welcomed the successful launch of joint EU-Japan civil society dialogue, saying it demonstrated the added value this kind of dialogue could bring in strengthening ties between the two sides.(dgf)