The European Commission has lately suggested a partial halt to Israel’s involvement in the Horizon Europe research program. This decision arises amidst increasing demands from EU nations to pressure Israel to tackle the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza.
As per a statement from the European Commission on 29 July, the proposal follows a review conducted in May of Article 2 of the EU–Israel Association Agreement. This review evaluated Israel’s compliance with human rights and democratic ideals, which are essential to the agreement. While Israel has enacted a daily humanitarian pause in Gaza and has met certain obligations related to humanitarian assistance and access, the circumstances remain dire, leading to this proposal.
The suspension specifically targets organizations based in Israel engaged in activities financed by the European Innovation Council (EIC). The EIC promotes start-ups and small enterprises with disruptive innovations and emerging technologies, especially those with potential dual-use applications in areas like cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence. It is important to note that this suspension would not affect Israeli universities and researchers participating in collaborative initiatives under Horizon Europe.
For the proposal to advance, it needs to gain approval from a qualified majority within the Council of the EU, necessitating agreement from at least 15 of the 27 EU member states, representing a minimum of 65% of the EU population. EU ambassadors deliberated on the proposal on 29 July; however, many are still reviewing it. A resolution concerning the partial suspension is anticipated shortly.
Israel, which became an associated country to Horizon Europe in 2021, has a long-standing history of scientific and technological collaboration with the EU, going back to an association agreement signed in 1995 and implemented in 2000. The ongoing discussions regarding Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe have prompted the president of Israel’s Academy of Sciences and Humanities to caution that Israel’s exclusion could pose a serious threat to Israeli science.