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European Economic and Social Committee /

Workshop on “The future of employment in Europe and Japan”

Conclusions

24 June 2009

1. Introduction

The EESC-Japan contact group held a highly successful(first)workshop on “The Future of Employment in Europe and Japan” in Brussels on 24 June. This important joint initiative bought together civil society andofficials from Japan and the EU, and included representatives from employers and workers organisations, chambers of commerce, companiesboth EU and Japanese, universities, youth organisations and other important civil society organisations.The intervention of Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) (on DVD) was made by Mr. Yoji Tatsui.TheEuropean Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, (Eurofound based in Dublin) was also represented.

The Workshop was also pleased to welcome high-level representatives from European and Japanese authorities, includingMr Nobutake Odano, Ambassador of Japan to the EU, Mr. Osamu Nakayama, First Secretary of the Japanese Mission (from Ministry of Welfare and Labour), Mr Jonathan Hatwell, European Commission, DG RELEX, Mr Julien Guerrier, General Manager, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, Mr De Koster, European Commission (Secretariat-General), the Lisbon Strategy, and Mr Egbert Holthuis, European Commission, DG Employment.

The Workshop was co-organised by the European Economic and Social Committee, the EU Institute in Japan, Kansai, and EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation.

The Workshop looked in depth at the prospects for employment in Europe and Japan in context of the world financial, economic and jobs crisis now spread throughout the global economy. Participants exchanged information about the various stimulus packages adopted in the European Union and in Japan, and evaluated the depth and extent of the problems faced.

This crisis has demonstrated just how far the world economy has become highly interdependent. The workshop welcomed the fact that Japan and EU relations remain excellent, and that together we account for 40% of global GDP. In dealing with the global economic crisis and the resulting loss of jobs the workshop stressed that we need to work closely together and not only at political level.

It noted that even our challenges are shared (ageing population and quality of life, diminishing labour force, the need to maximise youth employment, work life balance as in several other areas).

The crisis has had an enormous impact onemployment. By March 2009 the unemployment rate had risen to 5% in Japan, and 8,4% in EU. Youth unemployment (15-24 year-olds) is particularly problematic: average unemployment in the under-25 age group in the EU was 18,7% in April 2009, and in Japan9,6%.

The workshop offered excellent opportunities for exchanging views, and for learning in depth from each other.

Participants particularly emphasised that there is plenty of scope for developing civil society cooperation between the European Union and Japan – particularly in relation to the renewal of the EU-Japan Action Plan due in 2011. Through involving more civil society organisations and developing increasing people-to-people exchanges the already strong links between the EU and Japan can only be strengthened further.

The Commission confirmedthat it is open to feedback from civil society as to the terms, scope and duration of a new Action Plan.

2. Mainconclusions

The main conclusionsreached included:

2.1 Active Social and civil involvement and dialogueis a criticalweapon in tackling the current global crisis.

The participants stressed that social and civil dialogue plays a critically important role in dealing with and managing such a crisis, and that this role is important at all times. Because they are at the sharp end, and through working together will know what will be successful, the active involvement of employers, of workers and of wider civil society will make a key contribution towards finding solutions for:

-maintaining employment, and creating jobs,

-increasing access to employment, particularly for young people,

-promoting decent work and working conditions,

-creating employment through entrepreneurship,

-upgrading skills and increasing the flexibility of such skills, matching labour market needs and promoting mobility,

-and also in alleviating and dealing with increased social tensions.

2.2 Promotion of trade benefits employment

Growth in trade and investment increases employment. The EU and Japan must reinforce their efforts to facilitate trade and remove remaining trade barriersthat would seriously disrupt such growth. In turn protectionism is a fundamental threat to jobs.

2.3 Education, Training and upskilling should be adapted to the situation created by the crisis

Developing new skills and increasing the flexibility of existing skills are essential in meeting the crisis. Europe and Japan have to invest in training and re-training, promote a culture of lifelong learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Civil society must play a key part in this process, but above all in higher education, account must be taken of the experience and requirements of social partners and other stakeholders.

2.4Innovation will be key to development of new jobs.

Innovation is also critical in building new and sustainable jobs. Investing in research and innovation, and investing in the real economy, helping SMEs in particular, are also fundamentally important. Civil societies in Japan and in Europe, but also in developing countries such as China or Indiahave a key role to play in promoting research & innovation throughcooperation and exchange of information. History repeatedly shows just how many new jobs are created as a result of advances in technology – most recently through the IT revolution.

2.5 The role of civil society– the need to integrate this further in EU-Japan relations

2.5.1. Much has already been achieved to date through the current EU – Japan Action Plan. The EU-Japan Business Round Table has been meeting annually for over ten years to discuss ways to improve economic and trade relations; there are other sectors too where EU-Japan cooperation is also well established. These includeexisting links between academic institutions,whilst several other highly successful events involving wider civil societyhave also taken place, including the“Year of people to people exchanges” (in 2005), the establishment of EU Centres in Japan, and joint symposiums.

2.5.2. More can and needs to be done. This workshop has shown that civil society has a lot of ideas, experience and proposals to put on the table. Officials must recognise the major contribution civil society can bring and try to maximise its contribution.

2.5.3 Civil society input is essential for the challenge presented by the environment and by energy related issues, as well as on the wider issue of climate change, not least as the future of employment in both the EU and Japan will depend on our response to these major challenges.

2.5.4. This workshop is a key milestone on the path to establishing better working relations between the EESC and Japanese civil society, whilst recognising the challenge to Japanese civil society to becomeincreasingly strongly organised to be able to maximise its participation in this dialogue.

2.5.5. The workshop emphasised that the review of the Action Plan offers a key opportunity to make further progress. The meeting looked forward to a major increase in the emphasis to be given to civil society involvement when the Action Plan comes to be revised in 2011.

Participants expressed their hope that the European Commission and the Japanese authorities will give this request full consideration and give civil society its properchance to add a critical contribution to the existing strong links between Europe and Japan.EESC and Japanese CSOs,must be associated with the revisedaction plan and play a key role in "bringing together peoples and cultures".

A second workshop to strengthen ties between European and Japanese Civil Society was proposed for Kobein November by Prof Kubo, President of EU Institute in Japan, Kansai / Graduate School of Economics, KobeUniversity

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