EOB Meeting Notes

Tuesday, November 25, 2003; Chanel Office

10:30 a.m.-12:00 a.m.

GENERAL INFORMATION & UPDATE FROM THE SECRETARIAT:

1. Reports on: * White Paper: Report, Launch, Distribution, Follow-up, Costs

Press clippings provided separately. Launch well supported, with over 280 participants and attendance of many high level dignitaries, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Fujisaki). Cost of launch to be covered by project sponsorships as door intake did not cover expenses (though better than last year). Sponsorship covered all white paper-related costs, including the required subsidy for the luncheon). Distribution of orders on-going. White Paper will be sent to all EBC government contacts - if chambers/committees/etc. would like the EBC to send to their contacts, please let Secretariat know. Also, if chambers would like copies for their board members, please let Secretariat know. Follow-up via high-level door knock being planned for early next year

2. 2004 First EOB and Council meeting dates

EOB - Feb.24th (Tuesday)
Council - Feb.26th (Thursday)

3. Report from Policy Director (Casey Sedgman)

1. MPHPT has given permission to the Postal Corp to market a new insurance product, despite vehement
   opposition from private insurance companies (including lobbying from the EBC Insurance Committee) and the governments of the EU and the U.S.

2. Loss carry forwards likely to be extended from 5 years to 7 years. An improvement, but still shorter than in many countries.

3. EBC Animal Health Committee has its annual roundtable with MAFF tomorrow afternoon.

REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN:

4. Report on recent and upcoming meetings and activities

• Nov. 18 - Meeting/presentation with new EU member states

• Nov. 18 - Meeting with Nikkei and Ambassador Zepter

• Dec. 19 - Cocktail party at home of R. Collasse (EBC Council, EOB, Committee Chairmen, Ambassadors, key Japanese guests)

1. Nov. 18th Meeting with new EU Member States
   EBC Chairman made a presentation to 7 of 10 new member states with representation in Japan, though very few have a commercial presence (none has a chamber of commerce). Countries present were Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary, and Estonia (Latvia, Cyprus and Malta do not have embassies in Japan). While all were enthusiastic about the EBC concept, many pointed out that they would be unable to fund the EBC, even at a nominal amount. There was general acceptance that it was important to somehow include the "new" member states in some form in order to present a pan-European face to the EBC. The question of contribution to be discussed further. The idea of having existing chambers "big-brother" companies from the new member states was discussed.

2. Nov. 18th Meeting with Nikkei and Ambassador Zepter
   Nikkei enthusiastic about holding symposium, so long as high-level participation can be secured. Idea to build this around the EU Japan Summit (to be held at the end of June) and the EU Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable to create synergy effect.

3. Dec. 19th Cocktail Party at home of R. Collasse
   All EBC Council members, EOB, Committee Chairmen, Ambassadors, and key Japanese guests invited.

4. Trip to Brussels/Luxembourg/Paris/Netherlands next week
   Whirlwind tour to take in the Dejima Award in the Netherlands, weekend with Prof. Shimada (special advisor to the PM on investment issues) at Chanel Chateau in France, participation at EU sponsored symposium on the "Japan Paradox", seminar in Luxembourg on Japan, and participation in a joint JETRO/French Government sponsored investment promotion seminar in Paris. Chairman also noted he had been invited to Ireland in January to talk to the Irish Government about Japan.

RORGANISATIONAL ITEMS

5. Reaffirmation of Chairman & EOBs: Progress report

Some chamber responses are still outstanding (5 p.m. today is the deadline) but all responses received so far (representing the majority of stakeholders) have reaffirmed R. Collasse as chairman

6. Brief outline and discussion of main October 29 Council meeting items: proposals for voting

As per distributed maerial

7. Withdrawal of Portugal

Portugal has made verbal indication that they will be unable to continue paying the 300,000-yen membership fee and will therefore withdraw from the EBC after only one year. Membership of all EU states was regarded to be important and a solution should be found.

FUNDING & FUND-RAISING ITEMS

7. Decision on new telecommunications fundraising scheme offered by BLCCJ member - start January?

The EOB endorsed the notion of making an outreach to members on the revised scheme (refer to distributedbmaterial) in December with a view to starting the new scheme in January 2004.

COMMITTEE ITEMS:

8. Any committee liaison comments from EOBs - Nil

9. Revised liaison list

Distributed. This list will be reviewed in the new year when all new EOB members are confirmed

DAIMLERCHRYSLER CUP REPORT:

10. Report and Year 2004 planning

The reported was provided separately. Note: the organizing committee is planning to change the date of the event next year, and asks all European chambers to provide information on when they hold their own golf days so that a day can be chosen that does not conflict. These details can be sent to the organizing committee c/o the EBC Secretariat.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS: 　

11. Any Other Business - Nil