Israel desires ‘positive understandings’ on EU guidelines
The Israeli government has expressed its hope for ‘positive understandings’ on the EU’s new guidelines as bilateral negotiations on Horizon 2020 begin. The government has said that, unless an agreement can be reached, it will not participate in the EU’s next research and innovation framework programme.
The first meeting took place in Tel-Aviv and focused on drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Israeli delegation led by deputy director general for economic affairs in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Irit Ben-Abba, discussed with EU officials the rules and procedures for Israel’s prospective Horizon 2020 participation, including financial aspects.
In a press statement by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said it “views with gravity” and hoped “that positive understandings on the guidelines’ implementation will be found.
“Israel has taken part in this EU program since 1996 and its contribution over the years has been highly appreciated by European research institutions and companies, especially with respect to groundbreaking research and innovation.
“At the outset of today’s session, the Israeli side presented its position which views with gravity the internal guidelines adopted by the European Commission regarding the territorial extension of agreements with Israel. Israel expressed its hope that a way to reach positive understandings on the guidelines’ implementation will be found, so as to enable Israel to participate in Horizon 2020. It was emphasised that, should such understandings not be reached, Israel will be unable to join the European R&D programme.”
In related news, according to Israel Radio, the president of the Israel Academy of Science, Ruth Arnon, has written to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that if the country pulled out of Horizon 2020, it would damage Israel’s scientific capabilities, describing it as an ‘irreversible step’.
It has emerged that Israel signed an agreement with the United States forbidding funding organisations based in the Occupied Territories in 1972.
