EU Proposes Partial Suspension of Israel’s Horizon Europe Funding
In a significant shift in EU policy, the European Commission has proposed to partially suspend Israel’s access to Horizon Europe funds. Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Marc Botenga commented on this development, calling it “the absolute very least the EU can do.” He emphasized this marks a crucial change in the Commission’s previously held position, stating,
“The Commission always claimed it could not suspend Israel’s access as this would constitute ‘discrimination’. We always said this was nonsense.”
Botenga, representing the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PVDA-PTB) and serving as Vice-Chair of The Left group in the European Parliament, has been a vocal advocate for human rights since his election in 2019, actively participating in committees on various vital issues.
When discussing the implications of the Commission’s proposal for EU accountability on Israel’s actions, Botenga stated,
“After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission put out a statement that it suspended access, payments and projects with Russian entities. So why would what was possible for Russia, not be possible for Israel? The fact that the Commission now proposes at least a partial suspension shows not only that it lied to protect Israel, but also that popular pressure is working.”
Regarding the impact of this suspension on research collaboration within the EU, particularly concerning the European Innovation Council’s accelerator grants, Botenga expressed skepticism about its effectiveness:
“The impact within the EU will be limited to be honest. Unfortunately, the proposed suspension is very partial. All funding was cut for Russia; some small start-up funding will potentially be suspended for Israel.”
He also noted a gradual shift in support from EU member states, emphasizing that several countries—Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Malta—seem to back the proposal to suspend Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe. Similar sentiments were noted from Sweden and Belgium, while a prominent Christian-Democratic politician in Germany mentioned the need to reassess their position.
“None of these countries should hide behind the EU. All of them can take sanctions individually, as for example Slovenia did.”
Botenga warned that a partial suspension will not absolve states of their complicity but may contribute towards a ceasefire. In a related Facebook post, he reiterated the necessity for stronger accountability measures linked to human rights within EU financial partnerships. This response highlights the growing pressure within the European Parliament for more robust actions against violations of human rights.
MEP Botenga’s remarks underline a pivotal moment in EU policy-making, where humanitarian considerations increasingly intersect with funding decisions, reflecting the broader impact of public pressure on political accountability, reports 24brussels.