ABSTRACT
This chapter traces Japan's relations with the European Commission (EC)/European Union (EU). In 1968, the GDP of Japan exceeded that of West Germany and it became the world's second-largest economy behind the US. The Hague Declaration institutionalised an annual summit meeting with the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the Prime Minister of Japan. The Hague Declaration was inspired by and modelled after the Transatlantic Declaration in 1990. Usually, Japan and the EU pursue almost the same policy lines on global issues as well as in their domestic policies. Matters include dealing with ageing societies, and those affairs in regard to science, technology and innovation. Science and technology has been an important area for cooperation in the EU–Japan relationship. Disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance in the case of natural disaster is an important component of Japan's development agenda.
