Support from the Horizon Europe programme for Israeli companies involved in the ongoing genocide in Palestine
2.10.2024
Question for written answer E-001930/2024/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anthony Smith (The Left), Marc Botenga (The Left), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), João Oliveira (The Left), Lynn Boylan (The Left), Kathleen Funchion (The Left), Jussi Saramo (The Left), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Mario Furore (The Left), Mimmo Lucano (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Younous Omarjee (The Left), Pasquale Tridico (The Left), Li Andersson (The Left), Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Giorgos Georgiou (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Catarina Martins (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left)
Since 7 October 2023, and the beginning of the Israeli Government’s military offensive in Gaza, the EU has approved EUR 126 million in support of 130 projects involving Israeli participants through the Horizon Europe programme and the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Among these participants are arms companies developing technologies used against Palestinian civilians. Israel is the largest non-European beneficiary of EU security-related funding.
Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement makes its continuation conditional on respect for human rights. The EU Treaties prohibit the funding of ‘expenditure arising from operations having military or defence implications’ – a ban that should apply, given the plausible risk of genocide in Gaza recognised by an International Court of Justice order on 26 January 2024, and the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, for which the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on 18 September 2024 demanding that Israel end the occupation within 12 months.
Will the Commission:
- 1.Condemn the involvement of Israeli companies in the ongoing genocide in Gaza that have received EU financial support through the Horizon Europe programme?
- 2.Exclude these companies from EU financial support?
- 3.Propose to the Council that it suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement?
Submitted: 2.10.2024