Stephane Sejourne, the European Commission’s executive vice president for prosperity and industrial strategy, emphasized the importance of collaboration between Japan and the European Union in a recent interview. On September 16, Nikkei held a hybrid in-person/Zoom event in Tokyo. At the event, Sejourne noted that very promising opportunities to collaborate lay in developing strategic rare-earth minerals and other resources contained within Greenland.
In that interview, Sejourne emphasized how strategic these resources are. He underscored their immense importance in global supply chains and the frenetic pace of change in technology. He indicated that Japan and the EU would be stronger and more successful together through such a partnership. Such a partnership would leverage their respective comparative advantages in technology and natural resource stewardship.
Sejourne, a high-level official with the European maritime bloc, shared an enthusiastic outlook regarding the joint approach. He stated, “By working together, we can ensure a stable and sustainable supply of rare-earth elements that are vital for various industries.” The advancement of these minerals is therefore key—not only to technologies for technological applications but to improve energy transition strategies.
Beyond sharing examples of cross-border cooperation, Sejourne announced that the EU intends to draft its own Framework for Deregulation. This executive action is part of a broader effort to accelerate technology resource extraction and even more aggressively develop the commons. It might strengthen collaboration on trilateral initiatives with Japan in Greenland.
Greenland’s strategic geographic location has garnered unprecedented interest. Its abundant deposits of rare-earth minerals are critical for a variety of advanced technologies, from electric vehicles and renewable energy systems to advanced electronics. By focusing on this region, Sejourne believes that Japan and the EU can play a pivotal role in securing a sustainable supply chain for these critical materials.
In her interview, Sejourne underlined the critical importance of making these connections. The increasing global competition for rare-earth resources adds a sense of urgency to this immediate priority. He continued to emphasize that the partnership holds tremendous potential to boost industrial strength and innovation ability in both areas.