EBC Meeting Minutes

Council Meeting Minutes

Thursday, May 22, 2003; EBC Office

8:30-10:30 am

      

IN ATTENDANCE:

R. Collasse (Chairman)
A. Murray (EBC)
M. Reiterer (EC Delegation)
D. Collins (Ireland)
A. Karapetsas (Greece)
H. Du Mestier (France)
B. Anquez (France)
H. Mueller (Austria)
Y. Oishi (Belgium)
T. Varhama (Finland)
T. Kullberg (Sweden)
L. Drevet (France)
C. Sedgman (EBC)

1. Comments from Michael Reiterer, Minister, EC Delegation

Gateway to Japan Program Schedule of events:

2003

14-18 Apr

Healthcare

12-16 May

IT

2-7 June

Construction Materials (Osaka)

Trade Fair

16-20 June

Interior Lifestyle

Trade Fair

28 Jul -1 Aug

Young Fashion (Yokohama)

Trade Fair

8-12 Sept

Environmental technologies

29 Sept-3 Oct

Outdoor

8-12 Dec

Food & drink

2004

26-30 Jan

Construction materials

23-27 Feb

Environmental technologies (Osaka)

22-26 March

Healthcare

12-16 April

Information technologies

17-21 May

Outdoor

21-25 June

Interior lifestyle 

Trade Fair

Government procurement: EU plans to make procurement an issue in regular Regulatory Reform dialogue proceedings. Officials from the EC met recently with their Japanese counterparts regarding this issue. The EC Delegation would appreciate any information from firms that have direct and relevant experience in trying to source public procurement tenders in Japan, especially at the local level. Action: EBC to solicit feedback from its members.

Opinions solicited from members present on the effect of SARS.

2. Meeting of EBC Chairmen with Director-General Mingasson

Chairmen of the Automobile, Auto Components, Cosmetics, Food, Medical Diagnostics, Retail, and Aeronautics/Space/Defence briefed DG Mingasson on their respective sectors over breakfast on May 16th. DG Mingasson was in town for annual industrial policy dialogue.

3. Meeting of EBC Chairmen with EU parliamentarians

Chairmen of the Banking, Telecoms, Legal Services, Taxation, and Asset Management committees met with a delegation of EU parliamentarians on 19 May. The parliamentarians were in town for the 24th Japan-EU Interparlimentary Meeting.

4. Visit from planned "EU-Japan Forum" representatives

The EBC Office has received a request for support from a group headed by Prof. Shimano of Gakushuin University, which plans to apply to use the facilities of the Tokyo Metro. Governor's official residence to promote Euro-Japan business ties. Details are still sketchy, and as such no decision has been taken regarding the EBC's participation. A. Murray to keep EOB/Council informed of any further developments.

5. Upcoming events

Information for the following events provided separately.

  • E-Com/Legal Services Committees seminar on Privacy and Personal Data Protection in Japan (June 5th, 2003)

  • Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan luncheon: Haruhiko Kuroda, Special Advisor to the Cabinet (Friday, June 13th)

  • Human Resource Committee seminar on corporate pensions (Wednesday, June 18th, 2003)

  • BLCCJ-organized breakfast with R. Collasse (Tuesday, June 17th, 2003)

  • Economist conferences (Branding/May 28th; Japan Automotive Roundtable/July 17th)

  • Tax Committee seminar (Thursday, June 26th, 2003)

6. Web site update and use in fundraising

The EBC has been soliciting banner sponsors for the EBC web site to raise funds in abid to compensate for the substantially lower income this year. For more information, see www.ebc-jp.com

7. Recent media coverage

Articles in from the Mainichi Daily News, Japan Times, Actualites, the FT and the Asahi Shimbun provided separately. News articles on or about the EBC are now available on the EBC website in addition to other news articles of general policy interest.

8. Outcome of EFPIA Japan intervention

EFPIA has agreed to contribute 500,000 yen as a "sponsor" of the EBC. This is a temporary arrangement and will have to be renegotiated on a yearly basis. A link to EFPIA's contact details have been supplied on the EBC web-site. EFPIA will receive general information from the EBC and will participate in this year's White Paper exercise.

9. OECD visit to the EBC

C. Sedgman, J. Sandbach (Telecom Committee) and A. Murray briefed a delegation from the OECD on March 27th on the Japanese business environment, with a focus this year on Japanese competition policy. The OECD was in town as part of its yearly review of the Japanese economy.

10. White Paper funding outreach

The EBC Office will start soliciting sponsorship of the EBC White Paper at the beginning of June. As in previous years, the ability of the EBC to fulfill the objectives of this project will depend on this fund-raising effort.

11. Policy issues/Committee news: Report from the Policy Director

Information available at the EBC office on the following topics:

  • Japan Investment Council report issued March 27th setting out Japan's investment promotion policy

  • Judicial reform bill currently before the Diet that would allow foreign and Japanese lawyers to form partnerships

  • Revisions to the Telecommunications Business Law provided by the MPHPT

  • Factor based-tax, which has passed the Diet and will go into effect April 1st, 2004

  • Recently passed Industrial Revitalization Bill, which, amongst other things, will allow for cross-border "triangular mergers"

Recent EBC position papers:

  • In-vitro diagnostics issues (Medical Diagnostics Committee) (pending)

  • Telecommunications issues (Telecommunications Carriers Committee) (pending)

  • Changes to the TBL (Telecommunications Carriers Committee) (pending)

  • Single regulator (Asset Management Committee) (March 6th)

  • Dealing for affiliates (Asset Management Committee) (March 6th)

  • Offshore funds (Asset Management Committee) (March 6th)

Committee news:

  • New retail committee had its first meeting on May 9th. Good turnout, but goal will be to keep the energy level high. Carrefor has tentatively accepted the chairmanship.

  • First meeting of the recently amalgamated Banking/Securities committee held April 22nd

12. Report from the EBC Chairman on recent and upcoming meetings/activities

  • Presentation on EBC in Paris to Paris Chamber of Commerce (March, 2003)

  • Meeting with Paul Vandoren (in charge of RT in Enterprise Div, EC);

  • Meeting with Mr. Philippe Jean (in charge of RT in Trade Div., Manager, Enterprise Directorate General). Documentation is available at the EBC office on request. Paul Vandoren and Philippe Jean from the European Commission visited R. Collasse for feedback on how matters are moving in Japan.

  • Lunch meeting of R.Collasse and A.Murray with informal government investment discussion group. The meetings are becoming more open. Ms. Tani brings the EBC information. The focus is more and more on FDI. The government is trying hard to improve the environment for FDI. M. Reiterer of the EC Delegation stressed that it is also necessary to talk about inward and not just outward investments.　Next lunch will be hosted by METI.

  • Meeting with Mr. Peter Carp, reviewer of EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation. R. Collasse was interviewed as part of a review of the Centre.

  • Presentation to GCCJ on April 15. R. Collasse spoke about the EBC at the Westin Hotel.

  • Presentation to Keizai Doyukai on April 14. R. Collasse spoke about the EBC and about 50/60 people (Japanese corporate leaders) attended.

  • Lunch with the steering committee of the EU-Japan Action Plan (March 28). Documentation is available at the EBC office on request.　

  • Meeting with President Tsuruta of Nikkei (April 7). R. Collasse met with Nikkei president, Mr. Tsuruta, but did not want to be too specific. Nikkei is interested in doing a seminar with the EBC. They are very interested in deregulation. It will be a large amount of work, but besides the amount of work, the EBC would not have to invest or pay for anything. Nikkei will publicize this in their paper, and this could mean good PR for the EBC. It is probably best to do this when the EBC can "provide" an important person from the European side who can speak at this seminar.

  • Invitation to Emperor's Party, April 17th. A real honor for the EBC. 2500 people are invited, but not from the private sector. R. Collasse was invited in his capacity as the Chairman of the EBC thanks to MOFA.

  • Japan European Sherpa meeting (April 15). See below.

  • Presentation and Kankeiren (May 21)

  • Lunch with Professor Shimada and Ambassador Zepter. R. Collasse will host a lunch in June with Professor Shimada (member of PM Koizumi's advisory board) and Ambassador Zepter. Minister Ishihara to be invited.

  • Presentation to Icelandic Chamber of Commerce

  • Meetings with Committee Chairmen: R. Collasse will meet with the Asset Management Committee on June 18th.

13. EU Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable (EUJBDRT) participation lists

Provided separately.

14. Report on Japan European Sherpa meeting (April 15th)

R. Collasse, A. Murray and C. Sedgman met with representatives of (potential) members of the RT on April 15th at the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation to explain the workings of the Dialogue and solicit support from companies to secure high-level participation at the meetings on May 27th and 28th in Brussels. M. Reiterer (EC Delegation) briefed participants on the EC's goals for the RT.

15. Comments from R. Collasse and C. Sedgman on the EUJBDRT

Preparations well underway for the May 27th and 28th meetings (schedule of events provided separately). In addition to the work that the EBC has put into Working Party 1 (Trade and Investment) (see below), the EBC has also been very active this year in securing European participation and promoting the benefits of the RT to the European business community in Japan. The European participants of the roundtable have come to rely on the EBC for much of the "nitty-gritty" policy analysis on Japan, which is reflected to a large extent in this year's RT recommendations.

16. RT WP1 Draft (EU and Japanese sides)

Provided separately.

17. New Council Members: Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (Greece); Icelandic Chamber of Commerce

The EBC welcomed A. Karapetsas, Counsellor of the Greek Embassy, as representative of the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board to the EBC Council.

The EBC Office received an application from the newly established Icelandic Chamber of Commerce to join the EBC. Motion: Iceland accepted as new member of the EBC Council.

18. EOB from BCCJ - Special Request

The BCCJ requested that R. Mason, Chair of the Human Resources Committee, be allowed to concurrently serve as the BCCJ EOB representative. Motion: Accepted.

19. Golf day

A mini "Ryder-Cup" is being organized by E. Ullner (EOB Finland), C. Bysteft (FCCJ) and a counterpart from the ACCJ. Details to be forwarded to EBC members once they become available.

20. Comite Colbert submission to the Intellectual Property Strategic Headquarters

Provided separately.

21. Copy of 2002 Financial Review

Provided separately. Many thanks to Mr. H. Kakuta, Statutory Auditor, DaimlerChrysler Japan, and member of the EBC Tax Committee for reviewing the EBC books. Total Revenue: 52,064,507 yen. Total expenses: 52,654,913 yen. Operating deficit: 590,406 yen. Closing bank/cash balance on Dec.31st, 2002: 4,262,686 yen.

22. Need for fundraising ideas

Please forward any ideas to A. Murray.

23. Report of April 24th Taskforce Meeting

Taskforce also met May 21st to discuss constitution-related matters and will meet again on June 10.

24. Any other business

Notes on EU Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation Supervisory Board available at the EBC office.