The European Union and Israel promote scientific cooperation

Sources from the European Union (EU) said on June 8, in Jerusalem, Israel and the EU signed a scientific cooperation agreement entitled "Horizon 2020".

The document was signed in the presence of the President of the European Commission (EC) Jose Manuel Barroso is in an official visit to Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allowing Israel to participate in the EU's scientific research and innovation program period 2014-2020.

The program "Horizon 2020" has a budget of about 80 billion euros to finance EU research and innovation projects.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu witnessed the signing ceremony.(Photo: Times of Israel)

Speaking at the signing ceremony, EC Barroso President emphasized that Israel plays an important role in research and innovation activities, is an important partner of the EU to deal with common social challenges such as aging. population, food safety, environmental protection, clean energy production and increased competitiveness for industry.

The program "Horizon 2020" creates opportunities for Israel and EU to strengthen cooperation. Under this agreement, Israel is the only country outside the EU participating in the program equally as all EU member states.

Negotiations on the agreement were difficult when the EU eliminated cooperation with Israeli institutions and businesses operating in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem since 1967, while the Israeli side rejected everything. Reference about this occupation.

The two sides reached a compromise in November last year with a commitment to fully comply with all legal and financial requirements of the EU as well as Israel's political sensitivity.

Through the program "Horizon 2020" , Israeli high-tech companies and research institutes enjoy about 1.4 billion euros of EU support within 7 years.