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Japanese Perception of EU. What is your image of EU?. Japanese media analysis and Elite interview. Europ e does not exist without non-Europe It is necessary to have an external relation in order to understand European Union
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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 Newspaper269 ・Nikkei Newspaper 911 ・Japan Times 606
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview 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.
Japanese media analysis and Elite interview 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 The selected interviewees were identified from various field. Media elites editors, news directors Civil 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 EU, Japan is… ・6th most significant import partner (4%) ・6th most significant export partner (3.2%) For Japan, EU is… ・3rd most significant import partner (10%) ・3rd most significant export partner (12%)
Significant untapped trade potential If tariffs were abolished, it is estimated that… Japan’s export to EU could increase by 30% (€25billion) EU exports to Japan could increase by 23% (€ 14billion) ・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 mandate Still difficult to launch negotiation
In terms of economy, EU-Japan relation is stable. (There is not big promotions)
Normative and Diplomatic Power of EU Based on European Ideas of… Liberty Democracy Respect for human rights Rule of law Setting Standards to the World
Normative Power of EU 3 Stages on EU normative power? Attractiveness of the European ideas Diplomatic Strategy to spread the ideas 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 Examples Human 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 Examples Middle 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 • There was a significantly greaterfocus on the EU as an internationalpolitical actorrather than on political issues within the EU
Different Views on Political Power of EU News Items Elites
Visibility of EU Question to Elites “Who do you think is the visibility of EU?”
1. EU Executive Ranking!! ECB President Trichet 90 mentions High Representative Ashton 50 mentions Commission President Barroso 46 mentions
Catherine Ashton Born 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?