Belgium supports bid to suspend Israel from EU research programme
Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said his country will support a proposal by the European Commission to suspend Israel from part of its flagship research programme, Horizon Europe, over its conduct in Gaza.
Prévot said that EU ambassadors could reconvene next week on 13 August if a qualified majority of countries agree. The last time they met, when Belgium already supported the move, such a majority was lacking. France, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands are also in favour, among others – though the requisite majority is not yet reached.
The Commission proposed the unprecedented step after finding that progress was not sufficient in the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, despite the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas striking a deal with Israel to get more aid in, amid widespread reports of escalating starvation.
Prévot said that Israel would lose access to around €400 million in subsidies if it is excluded from Horizon. He called on the Commission to quickly come forward with further 'concrete measures' regarding the EU's so-called Association Agreement with Israel, which gives the Middle Eastern country perks on trade and visa access to the EU.
The EU's diplomatic service found Israel in breach of its human rights commitments under the Association Agreement.
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