Strategic Annual Report 2019
Europe in Turmoil and the Future of Japan-EU Cooperation

Europe in Turmoil and the Future of Japan-EU Cooperation(Photo Reuters/AFLO)

In the 21st century, Europe has

to understand the problems of Europe,

continuously experienced serious crises­

which has maintained the liberal– the European economic crisis after

international order together with Japan,

the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothersin considering how both can cooperate

in 2008, the annexation of Crimea

to uphold it.

by Russia in 2014, a spate of terrorist

41

attacks by extremists, a massive influx

One of the first things to emphasize isof refugees and the rise of far-rightthat the EU, despite its many problems,

populist forces, and Brexit – and theseis gaining solid support. In a 2018 poll

problems are interrelated and complex.

that asked whether their country’s

Meanwhile, the liberal international

accession to the EU was beneficial, anorder has been threatened by theaverage of nearly 70% of people in 28 EU

inclination of the United States toward

member states answered that it was ina unilateralist foreign policy, the new

their interests. This is the highest figure

rise of a dictatorial China, and thesince 1983. The support for the single

ambition of authoritarian Russia tocurrency, the euro, is also growing. In aregain power. It is of vital importance2018 survey, 64% of respondents gave apositive assessment of the euro’s impact

problems include: the failure of theon their country’s economy. This is themember states to cooperate on thehighest figure since the introduction

admission of refugees and intra-regionalof the euro in 2002. In addition,

free movement; economic stagnation inEurosceptics and far-right populist

CEE and Southern European countries

parties, who have advocated anti-EUandpolicies, have become less vocal about

member states; dissatisfaction with EU

withdrawal from the EU and the euro.

elites and establishments and the rise ofInstead, they have switched their stance

populist forces. Hungary and Poland,

to one of pursuing internal reforms

whose

while staying in the EU. In the European

increasingly authoritarian, have moved

Parliament elections held in June 2019,

toward manipulating the courts, thevoter turnout was up for the first time

media and even their constitutions inin a quarter-century, surpassing 50%.

the government’s favor. These moves

Behind this were active campaigns bycast doubt on the core values of theyoung people, urban dwellers, ecologists

EU, such as freedom and the rule ofand other EU supporters who felt

law. Externally, since the inauguration

worried about the future of the EU.

of the Trump administration, theeconomicdisparities

governments

haveamongbecometension between the United StatesThus,

theonce-whispered

collapseandEurope,

particularlybetweenof the EU, its “existential crisis,” isthe US and Germany, has been at thenow a thing of the past. What now

forefront. Since the end of World War

characterizes Europe is not a choice

II, European countries have maintained

between the EU and sovereignty but

their order on the basis of a multilaterala tug-of-war between integration andeconomic, political and security network

disintegration, in which those who seek

centered on the EU and NATO, backed“more Europe” and those who seek “lessup by the United States. However,Europe” struggle with each other.

with its “America First” policy, theTrump administration has taken aAlthough the EU has avoided its

skeptical stance on multilateralism.

“existential crisis,” it is not without

The differences in attitudes toward

problems. Internally, several serious

the US among member states have led

problems remain unresolved. Those

to internal confrontations within the42Strategic Annual Report 2019
Europe in Turmoil and the Future of Japan-EU Cooperation

EU and have obstructed the EU fromcoordinating among member states on
its security and foreign policy.
Brexit has recently received the mostattention in the EU. Over many years,
there was a gap in perceptions of theEU between the UK and continental
Europe. The 2016 EU referendum
led the UK to exit the EU, albeit by aBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Manchester Central
convention complex, Sep. 2019, Manchester.
(Photo AFP/AFLO)

narrow margin, against the backdrop

For Japan, Europe and the EU may

of a national craving for sovereignty

seem a little distant. However, Europe isagainst EU intervention, opposition toa rare partner for Japan that maintains

large-scale immigration and refugee

the same principles and values, suchflows, and the decline of the middle

as liberal democracy and open market

class and widening economic gaps. As

economies. The EU-Japan Economicof the end of October 2019, the UK’sPartnership Agreement (EPA) and therequest for a three-month extension

Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA),

to the Brexit process was approved,

which entered into force in February

making it unpredictable to the very end

2019,

how it will unfold. It is a certainty thatlink between the two actors in thisthe cleavage between and within publicdimension. The EPA is an agreement

opinion and Parliament, which has so farthat creates a free trade area accounting

deeply muddied Brexit, cannot be cured

for about 30% of world GDP and 40%

by the three-month extension. Even ifof world trade. It is a clear message senta formal agreement is reached, social

by Japan and the EU that they oppose

and political turmoil will continue. Yet,

protectionism and unilateral action

it should be noted that the Brexit deal

and support free and open economies

could be a vital issue for the UK, butand multilateralism. The SPA provides

not necessarily for the EU. Brexit is aa legal basis for strengthening strategic

blow to the EU. However, this crisis forcooperation between Japan and thethe UK will not necessarily turn into aEU, which share values and principles

crisis for the EU.

such as democracy, the rule of law,

showedastrong

normativeand human rights. The SPA calls for43

comprehensive cooperation in fifty

Meanwhile, at the EU level, Japan-fields, including politics and security.

EUThrough these agreements, we cansubstantially progressed. At the time of

expect Japan-EU relations to become

the SPA negotiations with Japan, theever closer. Japan-EU relations areEU proposed to conclude a Framework

good, and their potential is significant.

Participation Agreement (FPA) that

security

cooperationhas

notwould enable the SDF to further
In recent years, there has been progresscooperate under the EU’s Common

in security cooperation between Japan

Security and Defense Policy (CSDP)

and Europe, mainly at the bilateral levelmission.

with the UK and France, which are

was not realized, as the Japanese

deepening their engagement with theside believed that a track record of

Indo-Pacific region. The UK, whichconcrete cooperative missions, such

regards Japan as its closest partner inas patrol missions in the Indo-PacificAsia, concluded the Acquisition andregion, should be built first before theCross-Servicing

conclusion of the framework.

Agreement(ACSA)

However,

thisproposal

in 2017, following the United Statesand Australia. The ACSA enabled theAlthough

Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF)

deepened its engagement with theand the British Army to share supplies

Indo-Pacific region, the linchpin of its

and transportation services, including

security is still NATO, and its allianceammunition and equipment, and Japanwithand the UK have held joint exercises

relationship with the US is under strain

every year since then. The ACSA

due to the Trump administration. Inwith France also came into effect in

response to the Trump administration’sJune 2019. When President Macron

demands for more burden-sharing byvisited Japan that month, the Roadmap

European allies and its insistence thatonwas

NATO is outdated and obsolete, France

unveiled, in which the emphasis wasand Germany often take the lead input on the strengthening of Indo-Pacifichighlighting the need for Europe tocooperation, including the establishment

pursue its own defense cooperation andofComprehensiveintegration. The need for “EuropeanMaritime Dialogue, and the deepening

strategic autonomy” (ESA) has beenof security and defense cooperation.

stressed, alongside moves such as

Japan-FranceaCooperation

Japan-FrancetheEuropeUS.

has

However,

gradually

Europe’s44

the establishment of the “EuropeantheIntervention Initiative” in June 2018

infrastructure development, intended

and a call for creating a European army.

as a joint effort to restrain China, which

However, there has been a divergencehas deepened its strategic engagementof views among the EU member states,in CEE countries through the Belt andfearing that such a move might invite

Road Initiative. The EU and Japan area backlash or withdrawal from the US,

expected to further cooperate towardand the EU has yet to take concerted

the common goal of building sustainableaction. Delicate wheeling and dealing

and high-quality connectivity throughwill continue between member statesvarious cooperative ventures, such as

and the US over the extent of Europe’s

infrastructure capacity building andstrategic

NATOsecurity cooperation, maritime resource

will steer relations with the Trump

and waste management, and third-administration will be an important

country market cooperation.

autonomy.

Howsustainability

andquality

ofreference point not only for European
countries but also for Japan, whose

At a time when the US-China rivalry issecurity heavily relies on its allianceincreasingly taking on the appearancewith the US.

of a power struggle for hegemony, it
is difficult for Japan and Europe toIn addition to security cooperation,

assume global leadership alone. Rather,further cooperation between Japan

it is precisely at such a time that Japanand the EU is expected in the area

and the EU, which seek cooperationof connectivity strategies, including

through

infrastructure development. Japan has

must act to strengthen their strategic

been promoting the “Free and Open

partnershipIndo-Pacific” (FOIP) initiative sinceconducive to the common economic

2016. In 2018, the EU came out withand security interests of many countries

the European Connectivity Strategyand encourages their cooperation tofor Asia, whose values and principles

resolve global issues. Otherwise, theare similar to those proclaimed in theprinciples of a rules-based international

FOIP. In September 2019, Japan andorder and high-quality infrastructure

the EU signed an ambitious deal on

would be hollowed out in a power-infrastructure development between

game between major powers.■

Asia and Europe. The deal repeatedly
45

stressed the importance of ensuring

rules

ratherthat

thancreates

anpower,order