EOB Meeting Notes

Tuesday May 25, 2004, EBC Office

8:30-10:30 a.m.

Present: Mr. Richard Collasse, Mr. Duco Delgorge, Mr. Torben Henriksen, Mr. Michel Lachaussee, Mr. Richard Mason; Mr. Hans Porat; Mr. Gerhard Schlosser; Mr. Erik Ullner; Mr. Francesco Ziprani
Apologies: A. Zimmermann; M. Otter
Absent: P. Elbers

ACTIVITIES REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN:

1. Lunch with DIHJ President/Executive Director (May 12)
Objective was to meet with Mr. Manfred Hoffmann, the new DIHJ Executive Director.

2. 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.

3. 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 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. "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

7. Meeting with Ambassador Zepter (May 25)
Scheduled to take place after this EOB meeting to discuss the Nikkei Seminar and the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable

8. 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

9. Thoughts on Russian membership
R. Collasse raised the notion of offering EBC council membership to Russia. There was no dissent and the idea will be presented at the EBC Council meeting of May 27.

ROUNDTABLE/NIKKEI SEMINAR UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN:

1. EU-Japan BDRT update
Attendance by European CEOs is low this year. Financial Institutions are joining from this year onwards. The Chairman of the Banking Association in Europe has been approached. The EBC will request local financial firm CEOs to attend this year. New working party on Sustainable Development will be included 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 reorganizatin 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. 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 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. The meeting participants agreed that the council should be asked to agree to direct collection from EBC committee members of all chambers next year.

2. 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 Serives Committee members will attend.

3. Comments from committee liaison EOBs - nil

7. ORGANISATIONAL ITEMS:

1. Rewording by Michael Hancock of Taskforce update of draft revision of the EBC constitution (March 22)
This reworded document has been circulated to EBC Council members and will be explained at the May 27 EBC Council meeting

2. Next steps on constitution
Council members will be asked to review the revised document within their chambers and return written comments, if any, to the EBC Secretariat by a date to be set at the May 27 Council meeting. Once the comments are received, the Taskforce will meet to finalise the document, which may be taken to the vote in the September Council Meeting

3. Funding taskforce
R. Collasse will explain to the May 27 Council meeting that the taskforce will move on to draft a transparent formula for determining EBC stakeholder contributions

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