New EU rules could put Israel’s 'Horizon Europe' membership at risk

New European Union (EU) rules proposed for 2028, covering human rights, the Genocide Convention and international law, could put Israel’s membership in the world’s largest research program, Horizon Europe, at risk.

The proposed EU rules condition membership for non-EU countries on their adherence to “European values,” which include respect for human rights, international law, gender equality and the United Nations’ 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel, the country's harshest critics have equated the IDF's military response with genocide, which Israel has strongly rejected.

With Israel's participation in Horizon Europe, including research ties and funding for Israeli tech companies and universities, at risk, Israeli diplomats are proactively combating the new provision ahead of a European Parliament vote scheduled for the end of November. The Israeli Foreign Ministry and its embassies across the European Union are working with pro-Israeli lawmakers to have the provision amended or, preferably, removed before the vote.

Israel has been participating in European research frameworks for the past three decades. Israeli officials believe the provision’s new wording, introduced by lawmakers critical of Israel, is designed to exclude Israel from the research program.

Efforts to exclude Israel from the Horizon Europe program have increased by 150%, according to a report by Israel’s Committee of University Heads published in June. The program’s budget amounts to €95.5 billion ($107 billion) and the European Commission has proposed increasing the funding to €175 billion ($197 billion) for the next period, 2028-2034. The European research fund has been crucial for Israeli institutions and companies. Israeli academic researchers reportedly received around €1.3 billion ($1.46 billion) from the European research fund between 2014 and 2020. During the same period, Israeli research companies secured some €500 million ($563 million) in funding.

However, Israel’s concerns extend far beyond funding. The nation's research institutions and companies rely on international partnerships. Furthermore, Israel’s membership enables Israeli institutions and companies to take part in leading international scientific projects and recruit top-level scientists. There are concerns that Israel’s potential exclusion would undermine the Jewish state’s ability to maintain these crucial international research and scientific cooperation ties.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Israeli official warned that the European Parliament could potentially use the accusation of genocide against Israel as grounds for excluding the country from future research cooperation.

"This is a very long process," the official said. "It is not solely about Israel. There are enormous sums of EU money involved, and what we are seeing now is very preliminary and represents the position of perhaps one of the three institutions. Negotiations between them will begin, with proposals going back and forth. It is far from final."

Another Israeli official warned of serious consequences if Israel is excluded from Horizon Europe.

"If this passes, it will be the greatest achievement ever for the BDS movement," the official said, referring to the "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions" movement. "It could lead to a brain drain, because Israeli scientists will be unable to advance their careers without research grants."

Despite the serious threat, another Israeli official expressed cautious optimism that the situation could be resolved.

"In my assessment, this is a threat that can be stopped," the official said. "There is a majority of lawmakers friendly to Israel. Theoretically, this should not be a problem, but all it takes is one incident in the territories or another war, and everything changes."