EU countries begin discussions to suspend Israel from Horizon Europe research program

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - European Union member states began initial discussions on a proposal by the European Commission to partially suspend Israel's participation in the Horizon Europe research and innovation program, an EU official told Anadolu on Wednesday.

The official said the proposal was formally tabled on Monday and sent to the European Council later that afternoon.

"Therefore what happened in Coreper yesterday was just a presentation by the Commission and an exchange of view between member states. No vote or approval was ever meant to take place," the official said, referring to the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

According to the official, the ambassadors took note of the proposal, and the Danish EU Council presidency "will remain seized on the matter with a view to finding whether there is sufficient support for moving forward."

The official declined to comment on the positions of individual member states.

The suspension proposal requires approval by a qualified majority of member states before it can be implemented.

Israel joined Horizon Europe as an associated country in 2021, allowing it to participate in the program on an equal footing with EU member states. It has also made financial contributions to the initiative.

The Horizon Europe program is the EU’s flagship research and innovation platform aimed at fostering economic growth, technological development and job creation across the bloc and its partner countries.

The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which came into force in 2000, provides the legal framework for political, scientific, cultural and economic cooperation between the two sides.