Fourth Meeting of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council Held

1. Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the fourth meeting of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council was held in Brussels, Belgium. It was co-chaired by Mr. Matsumoto Hisashi, Minister for Digital Transformation, Mr. Hayashi Yoshimasa, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Mr. Ochi Toshiyuki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ms. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. At the meeting, a joint statement was issued as an outcome of the discussions between Japan and the EU.

The main points of the Joint Statement are as follows:

(1) Data governance and DFFT

• Data Strategy Working Group
  Recognizing that seamless and secure data flows are foundational to the modern economy and essential for the development of artificial intelligence (AI), both sides decided to launch an “EU-Japan Data Strategy Working Group.”
• Joint development and interoperability of data spaces
  Both sides deepened discussions on specific use cases for the joint development and interoperability of European data spaces and Japanese data spaces.
• Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) and international cooperation
  Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to operationalising DFFT to counter digital protectionism and ensure open and trusted data flows.
• Digital identity and trust services
  Both sides piloted the interoperability of digital identity credentials to confirm that they could be appropriately issued, stored, presented, and verified across different countries and regions.
• Electronic signatures
  Both sides have initiated contact to deepen discussions on verification of electronic signature service providers.
• Protection of personal data
  Both sides welcomed the successful conclusion of talks on expanding the scope of the EU adequacy decision on Japan to academia and research. They also confirmed their intention to intensify the talks regarding the extension of the adequacy decision to the public sector.

(2) AI and quantum technology

• AI
  • Responsible AI innovation: Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI as well as signing a Cooperation Arrangement.
  • Global governance: Both sides reaffirmed the need to continue exchanging information in the context of international AI governance initiatives and seeking to align positions in international forums, e.g., in the United Nations. They will encourage more governments, including from the Global South, to support the principles of the Hiroshima AI Process and to join its Friends Group.
  • Regulatory cooperation: Both sides acknowledged the importance of strengthening cooperation to enhance mutual understanding of governance frameworks.
  • Governmental AI: Both sides decided to exchange best practices on AI adoption in the public sector.
  • AI summits: Both sides welcomed cooperation between the EU and Japan regarding AI summits, including toward the potential hosting of an AI summit in Japan.
• Quantum technology
  Both sides welcomed the deepening of cooperation based on the Letter of Intent (LoI) on Strengthening Cooperation in the Area of Quantum Science and Technology and confirmed to further strengthening collaboration in quantum research. They welcomed the exchange of views on quantum communications technologies.

(3) Secure digital infrastructure and economic security

• Submarine cables
  Both sides welcomed the meetings of the EU-Japan Joint Working Group on Policy Issues for Global Connectivity and concurred on continuing the work of the Working Group.
• 5G/6G
  Both sides welcomed the progress of the joint research project, called “6G-MIRAI-HARMONY. They will enhance their collaboration on the international standardisation of future communication networks including 6G technology.
• Semiconductors
  Both sides confirmed the implementation of the MoC on Semiconductors. They committed to continuing the information exchange on supply chain resilience, including the effective use of the “Early Warning Mechanism” to anticipate and mitigate disruptions caused by geopolitical or natural factors.
• Cybersecurity
  Both sides welcomed the progress of the 7th EU-Japan Cyber Dialogue, held in January 2026. They committed to advancing cooperation on potential mutual recognition of cybersecurity schemes for IoT products (specifically working towards aligning the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act and Japan’s JC-STAR). Both sides will continue to cooperate on cyber capacity building in third countries, specifically in the Indo-Pacific through the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week and through the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC).
• Digital standards
  Both sides welcomed the closer links between the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC).

(4) Platform regulation

• Platform cooperation
  Both sides recognized the importance of protecting minors online, affirming their commitment to promote appropriate policy measures and enforce applicable regulations, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) on the EU-side to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being and the rights of minors online. They welcomed the Cooperation Arrangement between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) in their respective capacities as enforcers to deepen cooperation on issues of common interest relating to the implementation of the DSA and Japan’s Information Distribution Platform Act.

(5) Future direction

• New topics of discussion:
  Both sides will pursue working level information exchange on video game and audiovisual strategies.
• Industry engagement:
  Both sides confirmed that the Digital Partnership will increasingly progress towards the creation of concrete and substantial deliverables, necessitating the engagement of industry. They started exploring the complementarities of the respective tech business offers to work towards joint activities in third countries, for example in the area of secure and trusted digital infrastructure.
• Multilateral cooperation:
  Both sides concurred to cooperate together, and with other partners, in the pursuit of shared interests in the context of multilateralism and openness to trade.

(6) Way forward

Both sides decided to convene the 5th meeting of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council in Tokyo in 2027 to review progress and further deepen their strategic cooperation.

Related Material

• Joint Statement of the fourth meeting of the European Union - Japan Digital Partnership Council(PDF:347KB)

2. Bilateral meeting with Ms. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

Prior to the Council meeting, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ochi held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.

At the meeting, they discussed issues and cooperation across areas including semiconductors, quantum technologies, cross-border data transfers, cybersecurity, and AI.

3. Visit to NTT Client Innovation Center

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ochi was briefed on the latest research trends, including quantum technologies and IOWN technologies, and exchanged views on the NTT DATA Group’s global business expansion in the digital field.

4. Visit to AGC Technovation Center

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ochi was given an overview of the testing facility for high-pressure PEM water electrolysis membranes, and exchanged views on topics including Europe’s hydrogen strategy and hydrogen market development.

5. Visit to Toyota Motor Europe

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ochi learned about the development of a hydrogen ecosystem in the EU and the assembly of fuel cell modules at Hydrogen Factory Europe. He also exchanged views on the EU’s decarbonization and industrial competitiveness strategies, as well as the environment surrounding the automotive industry.

Related Link

• Third Ministerial Meeting of the Japan-EU Digital Partnership Council Held (May 13, 2025)

Division in Charge

Office of International Affairs, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau