Lessons from constitutional reforms in Japan: MEPs conclude visit
ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøվ’s delegation travelled to Tokyo to discuss with politicians and stakeholders efforts to change the country’s fundamental law.
Between Tuesday 15 and Thursday 17 April, a European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ delegation met with MP Hiroyuki Togashi, State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, the Commission on the Constitution of the House of Representative and the Commission on the Constitution of the House of Councillors, the LDP, CDP, Komeito, JIP, CDPP party responsible on constitutional affairs, academics, lawyers, and other stakeholders.
The over fifty interlocutors with whom MEPs discussed constitutional reforms allowed for an array of views to be presented on whether the Japanese Constitution should be amended and how. Moreover, meetings with academics and civil society provided a broader perspective, while MEPs also looked into relations between central and local governments and electoral constituencies. The Japanese constitutional reform offered an in-depth .
The delegation comprised the following MEPs:
- Loránt VINCZE (EPP, Romania) - Head of Delegation
- Salvatore DE MEO (EPP, Italy)
- Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, Spain)
- Gerolf ANNEMANS (PfE, Belgium)
- Adam BIELAN (ECR, Poland) - Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Japan
- Sandro GOZI (Renew, France)
- Daniel FREUND (Greens/EFA, Germany)
- Nikolaos FARANTOURIS (The Left, Greece)
Quote
At the end of the visit, the Head of Delegation Loránt VINCZE commented “Japan is a like-minded partner of the EU, with whom we share democratic principles and a commitment to the rule of law. The unpredictable international situation, the rapid evolution of our societies and their new priorities, and the responsibility to uphold human rights and ensure the overall well-being of our citizens demand more flexibility and adaptability than ever before. One possible response is to adapt the constitution to reflect these new realities, in order to strengthen state sovereignty and better serve its citizens. Our exchanges highlighted the importance of open debate and inclusive reform processes. We welcome Japan’s continued engagement in strengthening its democratic institutions, and we look forward to bringing our lessons learned to Brussels to support the reforms the EU requires.â€
Background
The Japanese Constitution, adopted in 1946, remains the oldest unamended constitution in the world, with its Article 9 preventing the country from maintaining a military force with war potential. In the last two decades, there has been heated political debate about amending it. In 2014, a reinterpretation of Article 9 by the Japanese government allowed the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) to engage in collective self-defence, meaning they can support allies under attack, even if Japan itself is not directly threatened. This marked a fundamental shift in Japan’s defence policy, enabling a significant realignment of its military posture without a formal constitutional amendment.
Contacts:
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Kyriakos KLOSIDIS
Press Officer