EUROPE AND JAPAN: EMBRACING A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE: RELATIONS BETWEEN EUROPE AND JAPAN.

• Author: Strom, Patrik

1. Introduction

   The relationship between Europe and Japan has a long history in several fields. There are historical ties through trade and cultural exchange and many European countries have had close collaboration through visiting scholars in a cross-disciplinary setting. Over the years these relationships have been developed and reinforced through globalization of both trade and cultural and political exchange. Collaboration in research and education has emerged as a robust pillar of cooperation between Europe and Japan. With the development of the EU and the single market, interest has grown from Japanese industry to locate business operations within the market. In recent years, the relationship between the EU and Japan has also been strengthened through the conclusion of both the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) (Berkofsky et al. 2018, Strom et al. 2021, Nakamura et al. 2022).

   The global landscape has recently witnessed turbulence in security policies and economic integration. The Russian war in Ukraine has altered the security situation in Europe in a way that has not been seen since the end of World War II and the subsequent Cold War. However, already before the war broke out there were clear signs of the limitations of globalization, where almost no progress within free trade on the multilateral level through the World Trade Organization (WTO) had been accomplished. Instead, the world has seen the growing importance of bilateral trade and investment agreements connecting individual countries or at best free trade areas (Lindberg and Alvstam 2012). With their long-standing relationship, the EU and Japan will be important actors for the foreseeable future, pushing the envelope for stability in an even more complex business and security environment. With both the EU and Japan as important champions of a rules-based world order, the future collaboration between these important economic and political actors will have repercussions on the global scene. Events during the last year has forged the relationship further, and EU and Japan have shown commitment to upholding the world order that is built upon respect for territorial integrity, human rights, and continued facilitation of trade through open and free trade routes (Strom and Nakamura 2021).

   It is not only within the field of economic cooperation that the EU and Japan see stronger collaboration through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), but also within areas that traditionally have not been tied to economic integration, such as environmental protection and economic and social sustainability. This development can be seen in relation with the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), where sustainability, connectivity, digitalization and security have crystallized as important areas for future collaboration (EU COM 2021).

   The aim of this special issue is to offer a comprehensive overview of the historical, economic, and strategic dimensions of the relationship between Europe and Japan. It aims to shed light on the enduring ties forged through trade, cultural exchanges, and collaborations across diverse domains. By exploring the multifaceted nature of the Europe-Japan relationship, this special issue seeks to emphasize the potential for ongoing collaboration and mutual growth.

   The historical ties, nurtured through trade and cultural exchanges, have laid the groundwork for a robust and multidimensional relationship between Europe and Japan. The intensification of globalization has propelled this relationship forward, strengthening economic, cultural, and political interactions. Collaborations...