- Title: JAPAN: EU and Japan discuss global warming and Olympic tensions
- Date: 22nd April 2008
- Summary: (ASIA) TOKYO, JAPAN (APRIL 23, 2008) (REUTERS) "KEIDANREN" ECONOMIC LOBBY'S BUILDING EU EXTERNAL TRADE COMMISSIONER PETER MANDELSON WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU EXTERNAL TRADE COMMISSIONER PETER MANDELSON SAYING: "I think it's inevitable that there will be critical differences between China and Europe. I don't think that boycotts are, either way, an approach that should be adopted either on the European side or on the Chinese side to resolve our differences. On the contrary, they will deepen the differences and actually make our dialogue harder, not easier." WIDE VIEW OF INTERVIEW
- Embargoed: 7th May 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations,European Union
- Reuters ID: LVA2AM3FX1E2TUX2FW858A3916P0
- Story Text: Japanese and European Union leaders agreed on Wednesday (April 23) to push for a new energy-saving framework to curb global warming at a G8 energy ministers meeting in Japan in June.
The agreement was reached at the annual EU-Japan summit in Tokyo, at which the two sides were all set to discuss the global economy and food safety.
The EU delegates included European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who is the current president of the European Council.
The new energy-saving framework envisaged countries setting individual goals to improve their energy efficiency, coupled with reviews by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and financial and technology assistance by developed countries -- an initiative aimed at ensuring emerging economies such as China and India join the fight against climate change, the news agency said.
The two sides also agreed to join forces to create an "effective and comprehensive" carbon-capping framework beyond the 2012 expiration of the Kyoto Protocol.
"Especially, we talked about global warming and how to come up with a framework that will reduce global CO2 emission beyond 2013. The EU and Japan will keep up our commitment and cooperation on this," Fukuda told a joint news conference that followed the summit meeting.
Japan has been pushing for greenhouse gas curbs to be set according to industries such as steel and cement, but Europe has favoured economy-wide targets.
"Japan and Europe are very important economic partners. Between them, they account for about 40 percent of global GDP. I think it's in our interest to keep this open regime of trade and also keep our commitment to these matters where global responsibility is needed, namely, development aid and fight against climate change," said Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission.
The leaders will also agree to strengthen international and bilateral cooperation to ensure the safety of food and other products, the draft said, reflecting Tokyo's concerns about Chinese products in the wake of food poisoning cases in Japan involving dumplings imported from China.
They are also expected to urge China to make efforts toward solving the situation in Tibet, express concern about the recent surge in oil prices to record highs, and agree to cooperate for a successful conclusion to global market liberalisation talks under the World Trade Organisation "within this year."
"I think it's inevitable that there will be critical differences between China and Europe. I don't think that boycotts are, either way, an approach that should be adopted either on the European side or on the Chinese side to resolve our differences," EU External Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said, referring to the Chinese boycotts of French products and a super market chain after a failed Olympic torch relay in France amid protests over Tibet.
"On the contrary, they will deepen the differences and actually make our dialogue harder, not easier," he said.
Negotiators in Geneva aiming for a global trade deal failed to resolve disagreements on a key technical issue in farm talks last Friday, calling into question the timing of a proposed ministerial meeting to clinch the accord.
Japan will host the July 7-9 leaders summit, which will bring together Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
The European Union will also takes part. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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