The EU Commission will suspend support for Israeli entrepreneurs

The EU Commission proposes to partially suspend Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe program, which provides financial support for research.

The proposal specifically concerns the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program.

Here, new and smaller companies can apply for support to disseminate innovative technologies.

EIC Accelerator falls under Horizon.

The proposal from the EU Commission comes after several EU countries have urged the commission to put more pressure on Israel due to the situation in Gaza.

This has met with criticism from Israel.

The country’s foreign ministry writes on X that the commission’s recommendation is misguided, regrettable, and unwarranted.

“At a time when Israel is fighting jihadist terrorism from Hamas, a decision like this will only make Hamas stronger.”

“It will therefore undermine the possibility of achieving a ceasefire and an agreement to release the hostages,” the post states.

The Israeli foreign ministry further writes that Israel will do its part to ensure that EU countries do not agree to the proposal.

“No matter what, Israel will not yield to pressure when it comes to national interests,” the ministry writes.

Earlier on Monday, it was noted on an agenda that EU commissioners were to discuss the proposal at a meeting. And here they have agreed to recommend that member states partially suspend Israel from Horizon.

If the EU member states agree to do so, it will be the first concrete sanctions from the EU against Israel as a result of the war in Gaza.

This is reported by the online media Euractiv, which covers European politics.

An unnamed EU official tells the media that the proposal has come because the EU has not seen any real improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where there is widespread food shortage.

This is despite Israel’s promise to allow more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.