Het veertiende Japan-EU Symposium over werkgelegenheid en maatschappelijke kwesties (en)

Ms Yoko Komiyama, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, and Mr László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, met in Tokyo in the margins of the 14th Japan-EU Symposium on Employment and Social issues, focusing on “Improving employability and labour market participation among young people”.

Minister Komiyama and Commissioner Andor exchanged views on the labour markets challenges that both sides face, reaffirming the value of continuing mutual learning among policy makers and social partners. The main points emerging from the exchange of views are summarized below.

• 1. 

  Common Challenges

Both sides highlighted the continued impacts on the labour markets resulting from the economic crisis, and the need to continue their efforts to addressing longer term challenges such as population ageing in order to achieve sustainable growth and maintain inclusive social models.

• 2. 

  Commonality in employment and social policies

With their exchange of views, including the discussion at the Symposium, both sides confirmed their common vision as regards approaches and measures in the fields of employment and social policies, while recognizing the need to tailor policies to national circumstances.

• 3. 

  Reconfirmation of the value of mutual learning

Building on the pertinence and fruitful discussions of this round of the Japan-EU Symposium, both sides reaffirmed the importance of mutual learning between Japan and the European Union on employment and social issues as like-minded partners with shared values and common challenges, and renewed their willingness to further deepen the relationship for mutual learning among policy makers and social partners.