EU Lecture Series “EU and Japan” by Mr. Huber,the former Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Japan(28 July)

It was a great honour for KUPES to invite Mr. Stefan Alois Huber for the 12th session of the EU Lecture Series on 28 July 2021. Mr. Huber served as Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Japan from 2007 to 2011 and is now seconded from the European External Action Service (EEAS) to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Austria as Special Adviser to the Director for Security Policy/Head of Cabinet of the Minister.

The special lecture was open to all the students, faculty members and administrators in Kobe University. There were 43 participants including 19 KUPES students who attended as the final lesson of the EU-Japan Comparative Seminar IIIB.

Mr. Huber began to talk about his youth of enthusiasm for European integration beyond the limit of nation-state system. As a career diplomat, he reflected on his professional experience in various organisations such as Austrian diplomatic mission to the EU, the European Commission and the EEAS including the delegations to Japan and Afghanistan. Such vivid memories were presented to bear testimony to the development of European Union form the market and monetary integration to political cooperation in particular the EEAS to incorporate common foreign and security policy. Mr. Huber also emphasised the importance of EU-Japan relations to cope with global issues such as circular carbon economy and digital transformation.