EU and Japan launch Digital Partnership to foster economic growth and achieve a sustainable society

During the 28th EU-Japan summit in Tokyo, Japan on 12 May 2022, The President of the European Council Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss important global and regional challenges as well as bilateral relations. They have also adopted a joint statement and launched the ‘digital partnership’ aiming at strengthening cooperation in a myriad of digital topics. This includes further support to the ‘Data Free Flow with Trust’ with a view to facilitating safe and secure cross-border data flows through enhancing security and privacy. Other areas covered within the partnership are international connectivity and green data infrastructures, privacy, data innovation, digital regulation, the development of digital skills for workers, and the digital transformation of businesses, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and of public services.