EU proposal would bar Israeli start-ups from Horizon Europe’s EIC Accelerator
The European Commission has proposed suspending Israeli entities from the Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator, which provides grants and investment to start-ups and small businesses. The Commission says the targeted, reversible measure responds to its review of Israel’s human-rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement; it would not affect Israeli universities, researchers or collaborative Horizon projects, and needs support from a qualified majority in the Council.
Bottom line — The proposed suspension targets EIC Accelerator calls, not Israel’s wider participation in Horizon Europe.
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The Commission’s proposal was published on 28 July 2025.
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The Commission says the EIC Accelerator supports emerging technologies with potential dual-use applications, including cybersecurity, drones and artificial intelligence.
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Under the draft decision, existing EIC Accelerator agreements with Israeli entities would not be affected.
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The proposed suspension would take effect 30 days after notification to the EU-Israel Association Council.
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The Commission’s proposal requires a qualified majority in the Council of the European Union.