Brussels – The EU Commission’s proposal to partially exclude Israel from the Horizon research program remains unapproved by EU ambassadors. The vote on this proposal, which addresses the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, has been delayed due to differing views among EU member states. Austria and other delegations express strong criticism of the suspension, fearing it may hinder communication channels with Israel.
Germany is among the nations advocating for further analysis before proceeding, preferring to await developments in Gaza. Recently, Israel has increased the entry of aid into the region, with approximately 220 trucks crossing the border on Wednesday, as reported by the military authority Cogat.
The proposal will be reassessed and is expected to return to the agenda in the coming days or weeks. It responds to the review of Article 2 of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel, which critically evaluates Israel’s actions in Gaza. While some EU countries have pushed for a suspension of the agreement, Austria and Germany have opposed this stance.
Implementation of the suspension does not require unanimous consent from all EU states; a qualified majority of 15 out of 27 states, representing at least 65 percent of the EU’s population, is sufficient according to the EU Commission.
The Commission’s proposal specifically addresses the participation of Israeli companies in the EIC Accelerator, which funds the development of disruptive technologies with potential dual-use applications, such as cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence. The proposed suspension is intended to be targeted and reversible, and it will not impact the involvement of Israeli universities and researchers in collaborative projects under “Horizon Europe.” (31.07.2025)
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