Saturday, 13 December, 2025
London, UK
Saturday, December 13, 2025 11:28 PM
few clouds 6.9°C
Condition: Few clouds
Humidity: 94%
Wind Speed: 9.3 km/h

Commission pushes to partially suspend Israel from EU research fund

The European Commission wants to partially suspend Israel from participating in its flagship research and development program, Horizon Europe.

Israel’s military activities in Gaza could endanger its participation in the €95-billion scheme, which it joined in 2021 as an associate country, the closest form of research cooperation for non-EU countries.

The suspension follows the EU’s review of its association agreement with Israel, which opens up advantageous bilateral relations. In June the review found Israel in breach of its human rights obligations under the deal, with EU foreign ministers slated to discuss potential consequences during a meeting next month, according to two officials.

“While Israel has announced a daily humanitarian pause in Gaza fighting and has met some of its commitments under the common understanding on humanitarian aid and access, the situation remains severe,” the Commission said after a meeting on Monday.

The suspension is focused on the European Innovation Council, a €10.1-billion program under Horizon Europe. It would affect Israeli entities participating in the EIC Accelerator, which allows the Commission to take a stake in research-heavy and capital-intensive tech startups.

Technologies funded under the EIC Accelerator “have potential dual-use applications, such as in cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence,” the Commission said.

Israel has faced increased condemnation from EU countries after the U.N. warned children and adults in Gaza are facing “severe malnutrition.”

Israeli universities and researchers funded through the more traditional Horizon Europe programs would be unaffected.

The decision still needs backing from a qualified majority of EU countries.

LP Staff Writers

Writers at Lord’s Press come from a range of professional backgrounds, including history, diplomacy, heraldry, and public administration. Many publish anonymously or under initials—a practice that reflects the publication’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and editorial objectivity. While they bring expertise in European nobility, protocol, and archival research, their role is not to opine, but to document. Their focus remains on accuracy, historical integrity, and the preservation of events and individuals whose significance might otherwise go unrecorded.

Categories

Follow

    Newsletter

    Subscribe to receive your complimentary login credentials and unlock full access to all features and stories from Lord’s Press.

    As a journal of record, Lord’s Press remains freely accessible—thanks to the enduring support of our distinguished partners and patrons. Subscribing ensures uninterrupted access to our archives, special reports, and exclusive notices.

    LP is free thanks to our Sponsors

    Privacy Overview

    Privacy & Cookie Notice

    This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to help us understand how our content is accessed and used. Cookies are small text files stored in your browser that allow us to recognise your device upon return, retain your preferences, and gather anonymised usage statistics to improve site performance.

    Under EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we process this data based on your consent. You will be prompted to accept or customise your cookie preferences when you first visit our site.

    You may adjust or withdraw your consent at any time via the cookie settings link in the website footer. For more information on how we handle your data, please refer to our full Privacy Policy