In Attendance:
EC Delegation
M. Reiterer
P. Duponteil
EOB Members
R. Collasse (Chairman)
G. Schlosser (Germany)
M. Lauchausse (France)
EBC Council Members
T. Kullberg (Sweden)
P. Baron (Germany)
H. DeMestier (France)
V. Heiberg (Denmark)
A. Pockett/A. Mankiewicz (Britain)
J. deWit (Netherlands)
C. Ochsner (Switzerland)
A. Karapetsas (Greece)
H. Mueller (Austria)
A. Kangro (Estonia)
A. Lanigan (Ireland)
EBC Committee Chairs
R. Kraucklauer (Automotive components)
L. Levan (Retail)
G. Roth (Animal Health)
G. Illichmann (Airlines)
S. Goedhart (Insurance)
L. Dubois (Patents, Trademarks and Licenses)
R. Murray (Automobiles)
P. Sinnaeve (E-Commerce)
Chamber Executive Directors
L. Drevet (France)
C. Bystedt (Finland)
EBC Secretariat
A. Murray
C. Sedgman
Report from the EC Delegation
1. Comments from M. Reiterer - New commission
will be inaugurated November 1st. EU-Japan Regulatory reform dialogue
scheduled for November 11th, this year to be held in conjunction with high
level talks on financial services. 2005 year of EU-Japan people to people
exchange (information on this provided separately). P. Duponteil replaces
E. Mathews as head of the trade section. W. Pape replaces G. Johnson as
general manager of the EU Japan Center for Industrial Cooperation.
2. Introduction of W. Pape, new General Manager of EU-Japan Centre for
Industrial Cooperation - Unfortunately, Mr. Pape did not attend.
Report from the EBC Chairman:
1. EUJBDRT - BDRT held June 21/22 was a
success… EU-Japan Summit statement contained promises to focus
recommendations of BDRT WP1 concerning a "Framework for
Investment".
2. JIC follow-up - R. Collasse likely to receive
invitation to join the Japan Investment Council (JIC).
3. Government Investment Discussion Group lunch -
This will be held on Friday September 10. R. Collasse will raise the issue
of tax deferral on stock swaps in M&As with a focus on triangular
mergers.
4. Hyogo Prefecture presentation - R. Collasse
made a presentation on the EBC and the promotion of FDI to a group of
around 150 Japanese businessmen in Kobe on September 1st. He also met with
Governor Ido. The event was organized by Hyogo Prefecture.
5. Comite Colbert - Comite Colbert is an
organization of French prestige brands. They have requested EBC support
for their issue relating to tariffs and quotas on imported leather goods,
especially shoes. The EBC will prepare a letter to METI in support of the
Comite Colbert. R. Collasse suggests that the EBC asks Comite Colbert to
join the EBC as a "supporter" similar to EFPIA, which pays
500,000 yen annually - in return, the EFPIA logo is on the EBC's homepage
as a special sponsor and an EFPIA entry is included in the white paper
(conforming to the paper's layout requirements). EFPIA issues are also
included in the EJBDRT paper.
6. Meeting on triangular mergers with ACCJ vice-chair
- A dinner meeting will be held at the home of R. Collasse on Thursday,
September 9 with Professor Shimada, President, Vice-President and FDI
Committee Chair (N. Benes) of the ACCJ, President of JETRO, Keizai Doyukai,
etc. to discuss future common approach to lobbying for tax deferral on
stock swaps with a shift of focus to triangular mergers (in contrast to
AC's current hardline approach) with a view to achieving success on the
issue.
7. December 15 EBC party at new Chanel premises -
R. Collasse will invite Chamber Presidents, EOB members, Committee
Chairmen, Ambassadors and key EBC Japanese contacts to an end of year
evening party to be held this year on December 15 at the new Chanel
premises in the Ginza. An invitation letter will be distributed in due
course. Spouses will be welcome.
8. Other items - none.
Report from the Executive Director:
1. White paper update - Sponsorship of the white
paper has reached the target enabling us to produce the white paper and
subsidise a launch event (provided costs are contained to reasonable
levels). The paper is under production and the English version will be
sent out for translation and to the printer on October 4. The translated
version will be sent to the printer towards the end of October. The launch
event is scheduled for early November to coincide with the European
Commission's submission of their regulatory reform proposals to the
Japanese Government. Mr. Valenzuela of the EC will participate in the
event as in the past. November 11 was the date mentioned in this meeting,
but this was changed subsequently to November 10 at the request of the
Delegation as meetings now scheduled with the Japanese government preclude
their participation in the event on the 11th.
2. OECD visit - A fact-finding team from the OECD
paid a second visit to the EBC this year on September 6. They spend about
2 hours meeting with A. Murray and C. Sedgman. Please refer to the
material distributed in the meeting.
3. Comments on Market research report updates for
Eurochambres - The environmental expert assigned to complete the
environment market study update (under contract with Eurochambres) proved
to be disappointing. Only a very small portion of the material was updated
and some of the update was incorrect. Moreover, there was little attention
paid to deadlines. Accordingly, all other work in the secretariat was
suspended for 2 weeks and the work was completed in-house, largely by A.
Murray with assistance from C. Bedin (see point 8 below), Y. Hijikuro and
C. Sedgman. The final update appears to have been considered satisfactory
and accepted by Eurochambres.
4. Visits from MOFA (new Economic Policy Division)
- MOFA's second international economic affairs division has been
reorganized to form an economic policy division with a focus on promoting
inward FDI. Two visits of various relevant personnel have been received at
the EBC secretariat.
5. Cooperation with Hyogo Prefecture - Hyogo
Prefecture will sponsor the white paper as a special sponsor. They are
also considering placing a banner on the website.
6. MCE seminars (June 17, Oct. 7/8, Nov. 9/10) -
Please refer to the distributed material. This event was suggested by the
Human Resources Committee and approved by the EOB earlier in the year but
has not attracted great interest. It will provide a modest amount of
income. The first in the series provided an income of 40,000 yen.
7. Human resources seminars with Proconsulting (Sep.
13/14) - Please refer to the distributed material. This event was
suggested by the Human Resources Committee and approved by the EOB (via
e-mail) in July. Attendance is limited and will provide a modest income of
around 120,000 yen.
8. Intern - Ms. Camille Bedin worked in the EBC
as an intern in August. She worked on updating the filing system,
producing a letter and an article in support of the Comite Colbert's
current issue, and assisting with the environment report update.
9. Extension of sub-letting arrangement with EWI
- There is a possibility that the office subletting arrangement with EWI
may continue through 2005. This will be confirmed at the end of the year.
Report from Policy Director:
1. Report on committee news from the policy director
- See "Comments from Committee Chairmen" below.
2. Report on cross-sector items - Ongoing
activities in following areas: Investment, JFTC fight with Keidanren over
revisions to the AMA, Post office privatization, Pension reform, EU-Japan
Regulatory Reform Dialogue, Tariffs/quotas on imported shoes (request from
Comite Colbert), protection of personal information.
Comments from Committee Chairmen:
1. Update on committee activities from Committee
Chairmen and other committee news.
- Animal health: Position paper on teratogenicity (July
30, 2004); Public comments on bacterial resistance and risk assessment
(Aug. 4, 2004)
- Telecommunication carriers: Public comments on
interconnection charges (Aug. 27, 2004); MPHPT briefing on
interconnection and spectrum usage charges (Aug. 4, 2004))
- Patents, trade marks and licenses: Patent Office
briefing on trade mark and design laws (Aug. 5, 2004)
- Human resources: Position paper on refunds to pension
contributions (to be released shortly)
- Food: Position paper on chocolate tariffs (to be
released shortly)
- Financial services: Questionnaire developed in
cooperation with IBA and ACCJ surveying regulatory practice in Japan
(to be released shortly)
- Tax: Position paper on upcoming commercial code
revisions and need for relevant changes to corporate tax law (pending)
- Insurance: Public comment on reserving for variable
annuities (to be released shortly)
- Materials: Committee chairman Mr. Arnaud Tissidre has
left Japan. New chairman pending.
- Automobiles: Progress on reorganization of JAIA.
- Banking: Limited progress on firewalls issue
- Legal services: Some progress on partnership issue,
but waiting for Nichibenren rules. ADR licensing issue still an
ongoing concern.
- E-Commerce: Personal information protection and SMEs
currently main topics
- Airlines: Pricing and distribution still highest
priority.
- Retail: Position paper on Large Scale Retail Store
Location Law pending.
Constitution:
1. Comments/explanation on latest draft - M.
Hancock outlined latest revisions incorporated into draft by the Taskforce
based on comments received from Stakeholders. Copy of the new
"draft" constitution distributed separately.
2. Decision on when and how to vote - Council
decision taken to set September 21st as deadline for voting via send-in
ballot (to be prepared by EBC secretariat). Tabulation of votes will be
based on existing Constitution.
Funding taskforce update:
1. Current taskforce members - List distributed
separately.
2. Spreadsheet request - Pieter Stalman
(Taskforce member and Tax Committee Chair) has produced a spreadsheet to
facilitate the review. This has been sent to the Chambers. Chambers have
been requested to return the completed spreadsheet before the next
taskforce meeting, which will be held on September 15th, 2004.
3. Next meeting - September 15th, 2004.
Organizational matters:
1. EBC Elections - R. Collasse is willing to
stand as chairman for next year to oversee the introduction of the new
constitution if passed. The Council was asked whether they wish to have a
formal reaffirmation of R. Collasse as Chair for 2005 or to have a formal
election for the 2005-2007. The Council agreed that for 2005, the current
procedure for the re-affirmation of the Chairman will be used. A
re-affirmation ballot will be sent to Council members. Deadline: September
21st, 2004 .
DaimlerChrysler Cup:
1. Update from C. Bystedt - Latest information on
DCC to be held October 1st distributed separately. As there have been some
cancellations, it is still possible to register when places become
available. Sponsorship is still welcome.
Other business:
1. Question from floor regarding EBC Budget for 2005.
R. Collasse responded that 2005 EBC Budget will be presented to the
Council for review/approval at the next regular Council meeting scheduled
for November 12th.
2. Next Council Meeting: November 12th, 2004.
EBC
Meeting Minutes