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News Summary
The following content was published online. A translated summary is presented below. See the source for details.
On July 28, 2025, the European Commission announced a proposal to partially suspend Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding program for research and innovation. This decision comes as a response to ongoing concerns about Israel’s actions in the region. The proposal aims to limit Israel’s involvement in certain areas of the program while maintaining cooperation in others. The European Commission emphasized that this move is part of a broader effort to align EU research collaborations with its foreign policy objectives. The partial suspension would affect specific research areas and funding opportunities for Israeli institutions and researchers. However, the Commission stated that channels for scientific dialogue would remain open, and collaborations in critical fields such as health and climate research would continue.
Source: European Commission Press Corner
Our Commentary
Background and Context
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship research and innovation program, with a budget of €95.5 billion for the period 2021-2027. Israel has been a long-standing partner in EU research programs, participating since 1996. The partial suspension of Israel’s participation marks a significant shift in EU-Israel scientific cooperation, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Expert Analysis
This decision by the European Commission has both scientific and diplomatic implications. It demonstrates the EU’s willingness to use research cooperation as a tool for foreign policy leverage.
Key points:
- The partial suspension may impact Israel’s scientific community and its global research standing.
- This move could influence other countries’ relationships with Israel in academic and research spheres.
- The decision highlights the growing intersection between scientific collaboration and international politics.
Additional Data and Fact Reinforcement
To understand the scale of this decision, consider the following:
- Israel was associated with about 1,600 projects under the previous Horizon 2020 program, receiving over €1.3 billion in funding.
- Israeli institutions have been particularly successful in European Research Council grants, with a success rate of about 17%.
- The tech sector accounts for about 15% of Israel’s GDP, with research and development playing a crucial role.
Related News
This development comes amid ongoing discussions about the EU’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader Middle East policy. It also reflects a global trend of reevaluating international scientific collaborations in light of geopolitical considerations, as seen with recent changes in US-China research partnerships.
Summary
The European Commission’s proposal to partially suspend Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe represents a significant shift in EU-Israel relations, particularly in the scientific domain. While aimed at aligning research cooperation with EU foreign policy, this decision could have far-reaching implications for international scientific collaboration and the global research landscape.
