Urgent meeting held to discuss Israel H2020 participation

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has held urgent meetings to discuss the EU’s Settlement Guidelines. Ministers discussed what Israeli officials have defined as the Union’s refusal to show appropriate flexibility in allowing the country to join Horizon 2020.

Israel and the EU have been looking for a solution that would enable the country to participate in the EU research and innovation framework programme since August. The Settlement Guidelines were published in June and prevent any Union money or funds being transferred to bodies beyond the Green Line, namely the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The guidelines specify that every agreement between the EU and Israel is to feature a clause saying that it is not applicable beyond the Green Line.

Israel has said it will not join the €80bn programme with guidelines in their current form unless an understanding with the EU is reached. It’s estimated that Israel would be expected to pay €600m into the programme project, whilst receiving €900m back in research grants and investments.

Israel has previously presented various proposals to the EU in the hope of finding a resolution. This includes stating that although Israel accepts that the EU would not fund beyond the Green Line, it wants to add a clause that this should not be seen as prejudging a final agreement with Palestine.

If Israel does not join Horizon 2020, one idea being explored is investing €600m directly into Israeli academic institutions and R&D projects.

Academic bodies, including the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, have appealed to the Israeli Government to sign the Horizon 2020 agreement. They maintain that not doing so would be a real blow to research in Israel.