Since the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2018, the relationship between the European Union (EU) and Japan has deepened at multiple levels. Japan and the EU signed “the Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure between Japan and the European Union” in 2019, and launched the Japan-EU Green Alliance in 2021 and the Japan-EU Digital Partnership in 2022.

Japan and the EU are partners sharing fundamental values and principle such as freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and market economy. With a shared commitment to multilateralism, how can we work together to promote peace, stability and prosperity around the world? We are very fortunate to welcome H.E. Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet, the EU Ambassador to Japan, who will engage in a wide-ranged discussion about the relationship with our Policy Committee chair, Jesper Koll.

Event and Registration Details

• This event will be conducted in in-person and online, and registration is required.
• In-person participation is for members and guests only. Please pay your fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) or at the door.
• Online participation is for members and guests only and is free.

Speaker Bio

H.E. Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet
Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Japan

Jean-Eric Paquet is the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Japan since autumn 2022. He held various mandates at the European Commission, where he contributed in shaping EU policy in various fields. As the Director-General for Research and Innovation from 2018 and 2022, he set up the European Innovation Council and promoted a whole-of-government approach for R&I, notably via the creation of several EU Missions to solve major ecological, societal and economical challenges.

He gained considerable experience at international level as Director for the Western Balkans in the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations and as EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from 2004 to 2007. From 2015 to 2018, he was Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission, in charge of Better Regulation and Policy Coordination, covering all policy areas related to the EU Green Deal.

He also led the development of the Trans-European Transport Network Policy and was responsible for Europe’s transport infrastructure policy and investment strategies, the single European rail area, inland waterways and port policy. In all his endeavours, he puts co-creation and systemic change at the heart of the decision-making process, and strongly believes that citizens should be more involved in shaping public policy agendas.