Toshiro TANAKA (Keio University) Eijiro FUKUI (Keio University)

1. EU Perceptions in Editorials of Japanese Newspapers: From the Constitutional Treaty to the Lisbon Treaty Toshiro TANAKA (Keio University) Eijiro FUKUI (Keio University) The Second EU Centres World Meeting 11-13 April 2010, at Madrid, Spain

2. Introduction: Objective of This Presentation http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Clarify EU perceptions in Japan during the period between the Constitutional Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty. • Public opinion survey in this year: No • Interviews and surveys of elites in this year: No • EU perceptions in Japanese media • Focus on editorials of quality papers in Japan. • Present the change/continuity of EU Perceptions in Japan in the period between both Treaties.

3. Introduction: Methodology http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Newspapers: 5 nation-wide newspapers - Nikkei, Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi, Sankei • Article: editorials • Reason : clear stance of the EU • Target: Treaty of the EU (Constitutional and Lisbon) • Period: • The Constitutional Treaty (Jun/Oct, 2004) • The Lisbon Treaty I (Oct/Dec, 2007) • The Lisbon Treaty II (Oct/Dec, 2009) • Focus • Title • Main Theme

4. I. The Constitutional Treaty http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Period • 18/June/2004: adoption • 29/October/2004: signature • The number of editorials

5. I. The Constitutional Treaty http://eusi.jp/content_en/ Title

6. I. The Constitutional Treaty http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Main Theme • Milestone of European integration • Beyond nation-states • Evaluation • Japanese media was highly interested in the Constitutional Treaty. • All editorials evaluated the Constitution in positive light. • Concerns about the future: Euro-skepticism However, all editorials agreed Europe could solve these problems in the future.

7. II. The Lisbon Treaty I http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Period • 19/October/2007: adoption • 13/December/2007: signature • The number of editorials

8. II. The Lisbon Treaty I http://eusi.jp/content_en/ Title

9. II. The Lisbon Treaty I http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Main Theme • The Lisbon Treaty is improvement from the Constitutional Treaty in perspective of the EU mobility (Nikkei). • The importance of the EU • Evaluation • Japanese media: Low interest in the new Treaty and the EU. • However, attitudes were all positive. Nikkei: ‘Increase of EU mobility’ • Concerns about the effect of the new Treaty

10. III. The Lisbon Treaty II http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Period • 3/October/2009: Ireland Referendum ‘Yes’ • 1/December/2009: came in force • The number of editorials

11. III. The Lisbon Treaty II http://eusi.jp/content_en/ ①Title (October 2009)

12. III. The Lisbon Treaty II http://eusi.jp/content_en/ ②Title (November 2009)

13. III. The Lisbon Treaty II http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Main theme • EU as an important player in international relations • EU as a new governance model beyond nation-states • Evaluation: nothing big differences • Strong return of interests in the EU to Japanese media. • ‘EU President’ depends on cases. • Translation may misleads: ’EU President’. Must be ‘President of European Council’ not President of the European Union. • Japan should pay attention to the EU more than before.

14. Conclusion http://eusi.jp/content_en/ • Interests to the EU • High interests in the Constitutional Treaty (2004) • Low interests in the Lisbon Treaty (2007) • High interests in relaunch of the Lisbon Treaty (2009) • Position of Japanese Newspapers to the EU • Positive constantly, even in 2007. • Pointed out importance of long term perspectives.

15. Conclusion position positive Constitution & Lisbon II Lisbon I low high interests negative http://eusi.jp/content_en/