A Way Forward

EU and Japan signed The Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure back in 2019, just before the outbreak of COVID 19. This partnership is part of a wider a scheme for cooperation between EU and Japan, including the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The aim and purpose of all these agreements is to create a level playing field for the EU and Japan, but also for the rest of the world—and to create peace and stability. The connectivity partnership can be seen as one in which two major world powers have teamed up to defend the present world order.

It calls for, “Transparent procurement practises, the ensuring of debt sustainability and the high standards of economic, fiscal, financial, social and environmental sustainability.”

The background to the Connectivity Partnership lies in global geopolitical changes. With the move from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) in 2015, the perception of what development cooperation should look like changed. More than ten times as much money will be needed to achieve the SDGs.

The Official Development Assistance (government assistance) share of all official and private flows is shrinking. Strategic assistance to encourage private institution and business involvement is being encouraged. Development cooperation is no longer only about poverty reduction, but also providing quality work and economic growth, clean water, affordable and clean energy and the development of industry, innovation and infrastructure.

Both the EU and Japan are champions of development cooperation. They have the financial resources as well as the knowledge to assist other countries, for humanitarian reasons, but also for their own benefit. In a global interdependent world, everything hangs together.

The Partnership on Sustainable Connectivity and Quality Infrastructure should be seen in this light. Sustainable connectivity is a geopolitical tool that cuts across all aspects of our life; it is not only about infrastructure.