A European Commission proposal to partially suspend Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme has failed to achieve the required qualified majority among EU member states, following opposition or hesitation from several national delegations during a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on Tuesday.
The measure, aimed at halting Israeli access to around €200 million in future grants under the European Innovation Council (EIC) component of Horizon Europe, was put forward in response to Israel’s alleged failure to implement humanitarian obligations agreed with the EU on 10 July. These included commitments to increase aid flows into the Gaza Strip amid ongoing hostilities.
To be adopted, the proposal required backing from at least 15 member states representing 65 per cent of the EU’s population. While a number of countries, including the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Portugal, Malta and Spain, supported the move, the opposition or abstention of Germany and Italy proved decisive. Both countries stated that further scrutiny of the Commission’s recommendation was required before any decision could be made.
Diplomatic sources quoted by Euronews and JNS indicated that Germany, in particular, now “holds the cards” in determining whether the proposal will be revived or amended. Berlin and Rome have not ruled out the possibility of changing their position in the coming weeks.
Hungary, Bulgaria and Czechia also reportedly opposed the measure, reflecting a broader divide among EU states on policy towards Israel during the Gaza conflict.
The Commission’s proposed suspension specifically targets Israeli start-ups and businesses operating in sectors considered to involve “disruptive innovations” with potential dual-use applications—such as cyber-security, artificial intelligence, and drone technology. It does not affect Israeli academic institutions or their involvement in collaborative research activities under Horizon Europe.
Describing the move as a “targeted and reversible action,” the Commission said it followed an internal assessment that Israel had breached human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Among the ten policy options presented to commissioners earlier this month, limiting access to Horizon’s EIC stream was deemed one of the most immediate instruments available to pressure Israel on compliance.
Following the Commission’s recommendation, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong rebuke, accusing Brussels of undermining prospects for a ceasefire. In a statement, the ministry said that the proposed restriction “only serves to strengthen Hamas and therefore undermines the chances of reaching a ceasefire and a framework for the release of hostages.”
“Israel will work to ensure that this recommendation is not adopted by the member states, and we hope that will indeed be the case,” the statement continued. “Israel will not yield to pressure when it comes to its national interests.”
On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israeli humanitarian measures in Gaza, saying that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had paused operations in populated areas daily between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. and designated safe corridors for aid convoys. He stated that Israel was cooperating with international agencies, including the UN, the US and European states, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
“We already allow significant amounts of humanitarian aid into Gaza every single day,” Netanyahu said, citing food, water and medicine as priorities. He accused Hamas of diverting aid and using civilians as human shields, while storing weapons in civilian facilities.
Despite Israeli assurances, EU officials have expressed concern over the lack of independently verifiable progress. Brussels has reportedly been unable to confirm whether the additional aid flows promised by Israel under the 10 July agreement have materialised. EU observers have so far been denied access to the Gaza Strip to conduct on-site assessments.
