EU and Japan deepen strategic digital, cybersecurity, and AI cooperation at 2025 Summit
At the 2025 EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo, both partners reaffirmed and expanded their strategic collaboration across cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital policy, and economic security. The agreements reflect shared priorities in securing infrastructure, advancing responsible AI governance, and strengthening the digital foundations of global connectivity.
The 2025 EU-Japan Summit formalised key deliverables under the EU-Japan Competitiveness Alliance and Digital Partnership, with an emphasis on data governance, AI, and cybersecurity. Leaders agreed to bolster joint efforts on critical and frontier technologies, promote secure and interoperable digital solutions, and pursue common standards on data flows, digital identity, and trust services.
A new working group will address the security and resilience of submarine cables, acknowledging rising concerns over recent damage to undersea infrastructure. Discussions will include Arctic connectivity and will report outcomes at the 2026 EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council.
Cybersecurity and AI capacity-building at focus
The Summit featured a reinforced cybersecurity agenda, including coordinated responses to cyber threats and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). Japan and the EU committed to joint cyber capacity-building efforts in third countries, especially in the Indo-Pacific, and collaboration on standards related to the EU Cyber Resilience Act and Japan’s IoT labelling scheme JC-STAR.
On AI, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the Hiroshima AI Process and welcomed global corporate engagement. They also pledged to continue joint work on responsible AI governance and regulation, aligning efforts within the OECD and other international forums to promote trustworthy and interoperable AI systems.
Strengthening the digital economy, semiconductors, and quantum cooperation
The summit confirmed strengthened collaboration on semiconductors, 5G/6G, and quantum technologies through the EU-Japan Digital Partnership. A Letter of Intent on quantum science was signed, and further cooperation on high-performance computing, online platforms, and digital market regulation was outlined.
Additionally, discussions advanced around expanding the scope of the EU’s data adequacy decision for Japan to include academia and the public sector—supporting the “Data Free Flow with Trust” (DFFT) framework. Both sides are committed to regulatory interoperability to promote fair and competitive digital markets.
