EBC Meeting Minutes

EOB Meeting Notes

Tuesday, October 17, 2006; EBC Office, 08.30 a.m. - 10.00 a.m..

      

Attendees: R. Collasse, A. Murray, J. Edberg, K. Harris, M. Lachaussee, H. Tempel, E. Ullner,
C. Eilersen, H. Porat, G. Keown, A. Zimmermann
Regrets: F. Cazzoli, D. Delgorge, P. Gibb, M. Schaedlich
Absent: P. van Oppen, T. Strand

1. REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN

  1. The presentation to French External Trade Counselors (21 September 2006) pointed to the usefulness to counsellors of having an understanding of the EBC and its work. This led R. Collasse to suggest that the EBC should produce an information brochure that could be made available to new counsellors, government officials and others as appropriate. The Executive Director has been working on this project (see agenda item 2d below).

  2. Ambassador Hugh Richardson (newly appointed Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Japan) received the Chairman and Executive Director (25 September 2006) and stressed his support for the EBC and commitment to build on the closer relationship between the Delegation and the EBC, established by his predecessor.

  3. The next Investment Group Lunch (20 October 2006) is to be hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Arrangements are being made for the EBC Executive Operating Board to host a future lunch with the Investment Group and the EC Ambassador, possibly on 14 November 2006 - date to be confirmed.

  4. The Chairman, Executive Director and Policy Director will hold a meeting with Mr Okamura, new Japan Co-Chair of the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Round Table and Chairman of Toshiba, on 9 November 2006.

  5. Following the meeting with Ambassador Richardson in September, the Chairman has been invited to present the EBC and, in particular, the new EBC White Paper, to EU Ambassadors at their meeting on 21 November 2006. It is hoped that this will lead to regular opportunities to update the Ambassadors on major issues and developments.

  6. The German Chamber has invited the Chairman to make a presentation about the EBC on 21 November 2006. Additionally, the Chairman has agreed to address their Board meeting (date to be fixed) and would be pleased to offer to do the same for other Chambers. The EBC Senior Vice-Chairman expressed his willingness to organize a meeting for the EBC Chairman with the new German Ambassador.

  7. The EBC will host a lunch for Karel Kovanda (Deputy Director General in the External Relations Directorate of the European Commission) and key EBC Committee Chairmen on 30 November 2006 during Mr Kovanda's visit to Tokyo. Mr Kovanda participated in the launch of the 2005 EBC White Paper and the lunch should serve as an opportunity to present the 2006 edition to him.

  8. Efforts are being made by the BCCJ to organise a joint Chamber lunch meeting, possibly on 1 December 2006, where the EBC will present the 2006 White Paper.

  9. The joint EBC Executive Operating Board / Board of Governors meeting will be held on 5 December 2006 at Europa House. The EBC Cocktail Party is scheduled for later the same day at Chanel.(from 6:30 p.m.)

  10. The EBC Secretariat will shortly begin work on the door-knock exercise to present the new EBC White Paper to the Japanese Government. It is hoped to arrange meetings in November with the Cabinet Office and key Ministries, as well as relevant party committees. The EBC delegation will be led by the Chairman, Senior Vice Chairman and Chairman, accompanied by Chairs of the appropriate Committees.

2. REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  1. The 2006 EBC White Paper, entitled "New Leadership - Renewed Reform", is currently at the printer (English version) and undergoing translation into Japanese. The final printed version should be available in mid-November. Copies of the final draft were distributed.

  2. Congratulatory letters were sent by the EBC to new Prime Minister Abe, as well as members of his Cabinet (sample copies distributed). The EBC also issued a press release welcoming the inauguration of the Abe Cabinet, which received coverage in the Japan Times. Blue&yellow floral tributes were sent to Finance Minister, Koji Omi and Cabinet Parliamentary Secretary for Reform, Financial Services and Re-Challenge, Koutaro Tamura. Both of these Diet members have had prior contact with the EBC office and the latter knows the EBC well. The EBC office has received "thank-you letters" from both.

  3. The European Commission launched a new communication, "Global Europe: Competing in the World", on 4 October 2006, setting out a new trade strategy in Asia and specifically arguing for the development of Free Trade Agreements with the ASEAN bloc, South Korea and India and for new trade negotiations with China. The strategy overlooks the potential benefits of a renewed focus on Japan. The EBC has sent letters to the Commission (President Barroso, Vice President Verheugen and Commissioner Mandelson) urging Europe to consider developing a formal agreement with Japan (such as an economic integration agreement), and pointing out that the US-Japan Business Council and ACCJ have already asked the US Government to explore the possibility of a US-Japan agreement. (Copies of letters distributed.)

  4. Work has begun on an EBC brochure, which provides basic information on the organisation and its aims, and could be distributed either on its own or to complement other EBC material (such as the White Paper). Given the costs and effort involved, it is proposed to confine the brochure to essential, long-standing information that does not require frequent updating. Two mock-ups were distributed, one with colour illustrations on the front cover, the other without. Costs with/without cover photographs are likely to be in the order of \360 000 / \260 000 for 1000 copies and \400 000 / \300 000 for 2000 copies.
    The Meeting agreed to the proposal to produce a brochure minimizing the need for regular updating, and gave the go-ahead for the brochure to be produced ready for use at the White Paper door-knock. Preference was expressed for a version without photographs.

  5. EU-Japan Business Dialogue Round Table: The Executive Director met the members of the Toshiba team supporting the Japan Co-Chair, following their discussions in Brussels with the EU Co-Chair, Georges Jacobs. They advised that both Co-Chairs are in favour of divorcing the timing of the Round Table from that of the EU-Japan Summit and thus being free to set a date sufficiently in advance to suit the business members of the Round Table. It is understood that the President of the European Commission and the Japanese Administration have raised no objections to this approach. Hence the EBC Chairman will take up this point with Mr Okamura at their meeting in November, with a view to the Chairs being able to announce a date for the 2007 Round Table in the near future. The current dates being suggested are July 8 & 9, 2007. News is still awaited on the appointment of a sherpa for Mr Jacobs.

  6. The EBC Secretariat was visited by a new staff in the Cabinet Office responsible for the Japan Investment Council. One of the objectives of the visit was to confirm the date of completion of the EBC white paper, which is likely to again form the basis of recommendations for the coming year.

  7. ETP promotion: Mr Michel Martino from the European Commission in Brussels will visit the EBC Secretariat on 31 October 2006 to discuss the ETP. Work on promoting the 2007 programme will start in the New Year. An event for all the organisers is being held in Brussels on 5-7 December 2006, where the EBC Executive Director has been asked to present the EBC's promotion work as an example of best practice and to speak about Japan. It is an important meeting as new promotion tools will be explained and there will be an opportunity to raise outstanding concerns about the fee system and other matters relating to this work.

  8. The Secretariat arranged a successful programme of meetings for the EUCOMED secretary general in September, and will arrange a further visit for him in November (6 and 7).

  9. The Executive Director has been invited by the Dutch Embassy to speak at a lunch for the visiting Dutch Minister for Economy, Joop Wijn, on 23 October 2006.

3. REPORT FROM THE POLICY DIRECTOR

  1. Human Resources Committee: In follow-up to the EBC call for abolition of the re-entry permit system, the Secretariat has been invited by a member of the Regulatory Reform Council to draft a proposal for a change to the system that would enhance Japan's ability to recruit and retain highly skilled foreign labour. The proposal could then be considered as a candidate for inclusion in the next round of regulatory reforms. (Deadline end October 2006.) .

  2. Taxation Committee: The Committee has participated in joint discussions with METI to prepare a case for tax deferrals in triangular mergers that METI can present to the Ministry of Finance. Meanwhile, the EBC Legal Services Committee has recently advised that some companies headquartered in EU Member States may be precluded from participating in triangular mergers in Japan, because their subsidiaries here are not allowed to hold shares in the EU-based parent company.

  3. Article 65 Task Force: The Task Force established on the initiative of Embassy Commercial Counsellors to follow-up issues raised in the EU-Japan Regulatory Reform Dialogue, is developing a position paper, capturing the arguments for abolition of Article 65. The paper is designed to help Embassies, the Commission Delegation and the EBC to present coordinated messages. The EBC contribution to this work is based on the Banking Committee pages in the 2006 White Paper and articles published by the Committee Chairman.

  4. Airlines Committee: The business environment has improved slightly. Concerns about anti-trust implications have led ANA and JAL to withdraw from the process of actively reviewing and approving pricing proposals filed by foreign airlines operating in Japan. Furthermore, Narita Airport has released a number of additional take off / landing slots to European airlines, although can only be used for landing as the runway is too short for some take offs.

  5. The EBC has agreed to participate in a series of ITV webcasts on regulatory reform issues. The EBC Policy Director will interview a number of EBC Committee Chairs.

  6. FDI Task Force: The Meeting expressed interest in a revival of the FDI Task Force, since this is a major concern of the EBC.

4. FUNDING MATTERS

The Executive Director distributed revised calculations of the 2007 fees per stakeholder (based on new figures submitted by one more Chamber), and the predicted budget for 2007. The revised calculations have been submitted to all Chambers for their approval by 1 December, with a view to final confirmation at the Board of Governors meeting on 5 December 2006.

5. 4th DAIMLERCHRYSLER CUP REPORT

Erik Ullner reported on the 2006 cup competition and advised that a proposal was being drawn up for the introduction of an additional event in 2007, where the top 35 players from each team in the EU-US competition (DaimlerChrysler Cup) would play a Japan team. The DC Cup would probably be moved to a date earlier in the year to accommodate this. There has been very wide support for the preliminary proposal from amongst current participants such that the idea is being developed further.

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Andre Zimmermann confirmed the appointment of a new Ambassador and Deputy at the Swiss Embassy. Arrangements will be made for them to meet the EBC Chairman.