(1) Representatives from the European Union (EU) and 22 Member States, attended the ceremony and signed the Agreement. The Member States which did not sign the Agreement are expected to do so on the completion of respective domestic procedures. (Note: 1)

(1) In his opening remark, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Nakano expressed his welcome for the signing on the Agreement by the EU and its Member States and stated that he was confident that this signing would create a further momentum towards early entry into the force and expansion of participation to the Agreement, and that Japan intended to cooperate with the EU and other ACTA Participants to reach out to other countries for this purpose.

(2) On behalf of the EU, His Excellency, Mr. Hans Dietmar Schweisgut, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, stated that ACTA, an initiative led by Japan, aims to improve enforcement mechanisms to help its members combat IPR infringement more effectively. This is an objective that the EU and its MS share with its trade partners