REPORT FROM THE EC DELEGATION - MINISTER MICHAEL
REITERER:
- Comments from Michael Reiterer
M. Reiterer reported that enlargement of the EU to 25 countries was
now a reality. The EU is involved in rewriting the constitution.
Various issues such as voting rights and the possible formation of a
foreign ministry are under discussion. Election of the EU parliament
is imminent and new commissioners and president will be elected. The
EC has been taking the initiative in WTO talks, particularly on the
main problem of parallelism in agriculture. The EC Delegation is
preparing for the EU-Japan Summit (June 22), including development of
a framework on investment initiatives. The goal is to encourage Japan
to regard the relationship with the EU as requiring involvement in
both economies. President Prodi and Commissioners Lamy and Liikanen
will attend the summit and the preceding EU-Japan Business Dialogue
Roundtable. President Prodi will be the keynote speaker at the Nikkei
symposium on June 21. Commissioner Lamy will also speak at that event.
Both commissioners have sent letters to European companies to request
their participation in the RT and the seminar. There was a recent
visit from Director-General Schaubb, who is in charge of market. The
main focus of the visit was intellectual property, financial services
and privatization of Japan Post. He met with the chairs of EBC's
financial sector committees. The Delegation recently published a
"manga"-style comic book about the euro. Copies are
available from the Delegation on request.
ACTIVITIES REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN:
1. Lunch with M. Janssen (European individual on JIC)
(May 14)
Invitation from M. Janssen to discuss formation of an FDI Taskforce. The
EBC will establish the taskforce with R. Collasse as Taskforce Chairman.
EBC members will be invited to join. Will likely form and have inaugural
meeting after the summer
2. Result of request for permanent place of EBC
Chairman in JIC
The Japan Investment Council was established many years ago and consists
of individual members. The EBC sent a letter requesting a permanent place
for the EBC Chairman in this key council, but the request was turned down.
The rationale is that the government wants to hear the opinions of
individuals and not those of an organization. However, a two-year term has
been recently placed on the council and a new membership will be
established later this year, which might provide an opportunity for the
EBC Chairman to join as an "individual."
- Pieter Stalman, EBC Tax Committee Chairman attended
May 19 JIC meeting as observer
Relevant papers are available in the EBC office
3. Bimonthly Government Investment Discussion Lunch
Meeting (May 19)
The usual exchange of information and updates took place, with JETRO's
Invest Japan reporting a brief summary of their progress in the first year
of their operation (attached)
4. Presentation at Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (May 21)
R. Collasse made a presentation to the International Committee of the TCCI
on the EBC and EBC's views on issues needing attention if FDI is to
increase in Japan
5. "Good Morning Japan" - TBS Radio (May
23)
R. Collasse was interviewed on the topic of FDI. A tape recording of the
broadcast is available in the EBC office
6. Meeting with Ambassador Zepter (May 25)
Discussed the Nikkei Seminar, the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable
and change in plans for the government "doorknock" (see next
item)
7. Outcome of "Doorknock"
The EC Delegation attempted to set up a program of visits with
Vice-Ministers, but did not succeed. The Japanese government's rationale
was that the 2003 white paper has already been distributed last November.
The new plan is to organize a door knock in early November this year prior
to officially announcing the production of the 2004 version
8. Presentation in Kobe & Meeting with Governor
(September 1)
R. Collasse will spend an afternoon meeting Governor Ido of Hyogo
Prefecture and speaking at a very large gathering of Japanese companies
and organizations. The prefecture is providing accommodation, transport
and a reception for the event.
9. Thoughts on Russian membership
R. Collasse raised the notion of offering EBC council membership to
Russia. There was no dissent at the meeting other than some reservations
expressed by the representative for Enterprise Estonia.
10. Other
R. Collasse will participate in the Board meeting of the EU-Japan Centre
for Industrial Cooperation and will also meet with a representative of a
company that has been contracted to evaluate the ETP program.
ROUNDTABLE/NIKKEI SEMINAR UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN:
1. EU-Japan BDRT update
Attendance by European CEOs is low this year. The inclusion of financial
institutions has been accepted. The EBC will request local financial firm
CEOs to attend this year. Outline of WP1's paper has been prepared by the
EBC and C. Sedgman will flesh this out next week. Draft papers of WP1
(Trade and Investment/EBC), WP 2 (Accounting and Taxation), and the WP on
Sustainable Development distributed in the meeting.
2. Nikkei Seminar update
It has been difficult to obtain top European CEOs to participate. The
Nikkei will not agree to having any Japan-based European participants in
the discussion panel, which has made organization difficult. At this stage
it looks like Etienne Davignon (Vice Chairman, Suez Tractebel) and Olivier
Baujard (VP Corporate Strategy, Alcatel) will participate on the European
side. President Romano Prodi and Commissioner Pascal Lamy will speak. All
of these people are coming to the RT and EU-Japan Summit, respectively.
Yotaro Kobayashi, Chairman of Fuji Xerox and Yukio Shotoku, Executive
Vice-President of Matsushita Electric will speak on the Japanese side.
After a meeting with the Nikkei on May 27, the EBC will contact members
and ask for names of people who would like a reserved seat. Nikkei expects
around 500 people to attend.
REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
1. Meeting with Eurochambres - possibility of project
A. Murray met with a senior manager from Eurochambres. There is a
possibility for the EBC to be subcontracted to update 4 market research
reports. Although the price is not high, a freelancer could be employed to
do the job and bring in some funds for the EBC. The EOB agree that the EBC
could accept the job if Eurochambres makes a concrete offer.
2. Presentation by AM at ETP orientation (May 24)
A. Murray made a presentation on the EBC and the Japanese environment for
trade and investment to the new ETP intake.
3. Office reorganization for EWI start (June 1)
A workstation has been set up along the end bench of the EBC office to
accommodate a fulltime staff member working for the European Wood
Initiative (EWI). EBC will receive rent in return for space and use of
EBC's facilities and equipment
4. ETP Information Meeting - Details distributed
at the meeting
5. Other - None
FUNDING UPDATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
1. Committee member fee payment update
Direct collection from BCCJ and DHIJ members has been efficient and 98% of
these members have paid. Currently chasing the outstanding payments. Two
chambers, one with a March 31 deadline and one with an April 30 deadline
have paid, but both have several outstanding payments to be collected.
2. Method of collection of member free payment in
2005
The Council meeting participants agreed to direct collection of the
committee membership fee by the EBC from EBC committee members of all
chambers next year.
3. Review of accounts - statement distributed
separately
Mr. Kakuta, who is DaimlerChrysler's auditor, has as usual, audited the
year 2003 accounts against filed contracts and invoices and receipts. A
copy of his statement was distributed in the meeting
EBC COMMITTEE ITEMS:
1. EBC Legal Services Committee submits letter on ADR
basic law proposals (distributed separately)
A similar letter from the ACCJ was submitted on the same day. If the
situation does not change, the committee may ask EBC Chairman, R.
Collasse, to make a presentation in the future.
2. Michael Hancock (Legal Committee Services
Chairman) to make presentation at LDP hearing on commercial law reform
The EBC has been asked to make a presentation along with the ACCJ on
Friday 28. M. Hancock and 2 other Legal Services Committee members will
attend.
ORGANISATIONAL ITEMS:
1. Explanation of the latest Taskforce update of
draft revision of the EBC constitution (March 22)
This reworded document has been circulated to EBC Council members and was
briefly explained at the meeting.
2. Next steps on constitution (date for response by
chambers to latest version??)
Chambers are requested to review the latest version of the constitution
draft and send written comments, if any, to the EBC Secretariat by July
31. These comments will be reviewed by the taskforce, which will prepare a
final version for distribution to council members at least 2 weeks in
advance of the next council meeting with a view to voting on the revision
in the September 9 council meeting or at an extraordinary meeting called
for that purpose if deemed necessary.
3. Establishment of Funding taskforce
R. Collasse said that the taskforce has worked on a revision of the
committee rules (currently being reworded by M. Hancock) and will move on
to draft a transparent formula for determining EBC stakeholder
contributions. A call will be made for additional members before the first
meeting.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CUP REPORT:
- Update
Already almost fully subscribed. More sponsors are required
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
EBC
Meeting Minutes