Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission
14.5.2020
The EU condemns all forms of torture under any circumstance in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU[1].
The relationship between the EU and Israel is governed by a Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the EU and its Member States and the State of Israel since 2000[2]. Th e association of Israel to Horizon 2020[3] is governed by an Agreement on participation. The Agreement makes participation subject to EU legislation establishing the programme and implementing rules.
According to Horizon 2020 Regulation[4], research and innovation activities must comply with ethical principles and relevant national, Union and international legislation, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and the European Convention on Human Rights. At the level of programme implementation, several mechanisms are in place to ensure compliance.
Horizon 2020 projects are evaluated by external independent experts; compliance with ethical principles and legislation is ensured by the ethics appraisal scheme including: ethics self-assessment; two-stage ethics review, with ethics screening and, if necessary, assessment by the Commission/Agency; if needed, ethics checks, reviews and audits during implementation and up to two years afterwards.
- [1] Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2010/C 83/02)
- [2] Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part (OJ L 147, 21.6.2000)
- [3] The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)
- [4] Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 — the framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC .