MEPs denounce EU funding of Israeli defence firms

A group of members of the European Parliament, mostly from the leftist groups of the chamber, called for tighter controls on European funding of Israeli companies.

In a letter addressed to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, this group highlighted the weakness of the Horizon 2020 safeguards, which allows companies like Israel's Elbit Systems, a defence specialist, to fund their research programmes.

Safeguards were strengthened with the establishment of the Horizon 2020 programme, which began in 2014, to prevent companies registered in Tel-Aviv, that carry out their activities in the Occuped Territories, from accessing EU funds. These restriction criteria were a major source of tension between the EU and Israel when the partnership agreement was signed. The Israeli government does not distinguish between its territory and its colonies, but the EU does not recognise the occupied lands as Israeli territories.

ESO: Background information: EU, Israel sign Horizon 2020 association agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-israel-sign-horizon-2020-association-agreement/

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