日ＥＵ、月内首脳会談で調整　「インド太平洋」めぐり協議

　菅義偉首相は欧州連合（ＥＵ）のミシェル大統領、フォンデアライエン欧州委員長とのオンライン会談を５月中に行う方向で調整に入った。日本政府関係者が１１日、明らかにした。日本が提唱する「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」構想実現に向け意見を交わす見通しだ。
　ＥＵは４月、初の包括的なインド太平洋戦略を公表。覇権主義的な動きを見せる中国を念頭に、安全保障や経済の分野で関与を強める姿勢を明確にした。９月に具体策を取りまとめる方針で、首相は東・南シナ海や台湾周辺で緊張が増す現状を伝え、対中認識を共有したい考えだ。（2021/05/11-17:21）

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga plans to hold an online meeting with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this month, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.
   Suga and the European Union leaders are expected to discuss the "free and open Indo-Pacific" initiative championed by Japan, the sources said.
   The EU released its first comprehensive strategy for the Indo-Pacific last month, which called for its greater engagement in the fields of security and economy in the region amid hegemonic activities taken by China. The EU plans to draw up detailed steps in September.
   Suga plans to explain growing tensions in the East and South China seas as well as near Taiwan to the EU leaders so that Japan and the EU can share their views on China, according to the sources.
   They are also expected to talk about the EU continuing smooth exports of novel coronavirus vaccines to Japan.