On 28 October 2025, the NAVIGATOR project held its third and final Regional Policy Workshop of the year, this time in Tokyo, to explore how the European Union can navigate an increasingly complex and competitive international environment in close cooperation with trusted partners such as Japan.
Hosted at Europa House with the kind support of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan and NUPI, the full-day workshop gathered experts, academics, and policymakers from Europe and Asia to discuss how to adapt the governance of digital technologies, global health, and broader multilateral cooperation to new geopolitical realities.
The event featured opening remarks by Thomas Gnocchi, Deputy Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, and John Karlsrud, NAVIGATOR Principal Investigator (NUPI), followed by a keynote lecture on “Search Costs in Global Governance” by Professor Leonard Seabrooke (Copenhagen Business School).
Discussions then included:
- Panel 1: “Decline and Innovation in Global Governance” with Yoko Iwama (GRIPS), Ole Jacob Sending (NUPI), and Chiyuki Aoi (University of Tokyo), chaired by Wrenn Yennie Lindgren (NUPI)
- Panel 2: “Regional Perspectives on Global Governance” with Akiko Fukushima (The Tokyo Foundation), Wrenn Yennie Lindgren (NUPI), Hiroshi Nakanishi (Kyoto University) and Ayako Kobayashi (Sophia University), chaired by Eleni Tsingou (Copenhagen Business School)
- Panel 3: “Global Digital Governance: Defending a Free and Open Internet in a Vast Regime Complex” with Eneken Tikk (Tallinn University of Technology), Mihoko Matsubara (NTT), Eleni Tsingou (CBS) and Dai Mochinaga (Shibaura Institute of Technology), chaired by Peter Fatelnig (EU Delegation to Japan)
- Panel 4: “Global Health Governance – Restructure or Reform?” with Alexander Kentikelenis (Bocconi University), Yasushi Katsuma (Waseda University), Kayo Takuma (Keio University), and Ayako Takemi (University of Tokyo), chaired by Leonard Seabrooke (CBS)
Cooperation in Times of Fragmentation
The workshop opened with a strong reminder that the rules-based international order is undergoing a profound stress test. As political polarisation rises and major powers increasingly prefer transactional diplomacy over institutionalized cooperation, governance arrangements that once seemed solid are now contested.
Yet participants emphasized that global governance has always adapted to shifts in power. Rather than focus on the decline of existing structures, speakers called for identifying where innovation is emerging — from minilateral arrangements in Asia to flexible “issue-based” alliances — and how Europe and Japan can harness these approaches without eroding legitimacy and accountability.
In the keynote, Leonard Seabrooke introduced NAVIGATOR’s core concept of “search costs”: the financial, political, and informational costs states face in identifying reliable partners. As these costs grow, global governance becomes more exclusive — making cooperation between trusted actors like the EU and Japan more strategic than ever.
Digital Governance: Preserving an Open and Democratic Internet
Digital technologies now structure almost every dimension of international politics, yet the governance system surrounding them remains fragmented and contested. The discussion highlighted the need to resist growing authoritarian influence online by reinforcing democratic standards.
Speakers stressed the importance of stronger coordination between governments and private industry, as well as leadership on data governance and cybersecurity. The EU-Japan partnership was seen as central to shaping a free, open, and secure digital environment aligned with democratic values.
Global Health Governance: Security, Cooperation, and Domestic Pressures
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, multilateral health governance faces financing challenges and fluctuating political commitment. Participants noted that Japan, like Europe, must balance strong international engagement with rising domestic scepticism toward global institutions.
A key point emerged: global health security is national security. Cooperation on preparedness, surveillance, and public-private partnerships will remain essential as threats evolve — especially amid shifting U.S. involvement with the WHO. Tokyo and Brussels are poised to reinforce multilateral health systems where it matters most.
Closing Remarks: Strengthening Like-Minded Coalitions
The workshop concluded with thoughtful reflections from Wrenn Yennie (NUPI) and Her Excellency Kristin Iglum, Norwegian Ambassador to Japan, who highlighted the importance of cooperation extending beyond the EU’s borders.
Her Excellency Iglum reminded participants that European (but non-EU) partners like Norway are vital contributors to multilateral governance and share strong interests with both the EU and Japan in upholding democratic principles and effective global cooperation.
Her remarks were a timely reminder that trusted partnerships remain the cornerstone of resilience in a fragmenting international system.
Shared Responsibility for the Future
Throughout the day, discussions underscored that while global governance is becoming more pluralistic and competitive, fragmentation does not have to mean failure. Europe and Japan can act as bridge-builders, ensuring that the evolution of multilateralism remains anchored in shared values and cooperation.
With Tokyo marking the final stop in NAVIGATOR’s 2025 regional outreach (following workshops in Johannesburg and Ottawa) the project now looks to 2026 and the presentation of its policy findings in Brussels, at the heart of Europe.
