Nederlands
English
Français
Deutsch
Español
Português
Academic Cooperation or Complicity? European Universities Grapple with Israeli Ties
Across European campuses, a profound ethical debate has emerged regarding Israel's participation in EU research programs. Universities and student bodies are increasingly questioning the morality of continued academic collaboration amid Israel's military actions in Gaza, creating a patchwork of boycotts, suspensions, and protests across the continent.
EU-Level Disagreement on Research Funding
In July 2025, the European Commission proposed suspending Israel's participation in parts of Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship €95.5 billion research and innovation program. The proposed suspension would specifically affect Israeli involvement in the European Innovation Council Accelerator, which funds startups developing dual-use technologies including cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence.
Since 2021, Israeli participants have received €875.9 million in net EU contributions through Horizon Europe. The Commission's proposal followed a European External Action Service report concluding that Israel's actions in Gaza violate human rights principles embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement that has governed their relations since 2000.
Grassroots Pressure and University Actions
The University of Ljubljana in Slovenia has taken a leading stance, calling on the European Commission to suspend Israeli participation in Horizon Europe and refraining from joining projects involving Israeli institutions. This decision followed appeals from over 200 professors and staff members supported by their trade union.
Similarly, the University of Primorska announced it would not enter new projects with Israel once existing collaborations conclude. In Belgium, the Flemish Interuniversity Council dismissed the Commission's proposal as "symbolic" and called for suspension of the entire EU-Israel Association Agreement over "massive and objectively documented" human rights violations.
Student Activism and Institutional Responses
Student activism has played a crucial role, with occupations and protests at Belgian universities pushing several institutions to suspend cooperation with Israeli partners. The tensions were highlighted when Université Libre de Bruxelles' 2025 law graduate class chose to name their class after French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, drawing both support and criticism.
Several Italian universities including Pisa, Milan, Turin, and Florence have suspended or reduced collaborations with Israeli institutions. Spain's Universities Council, representing 76 institutions, announced it would review all agreements with Israeli counterparts and suspend partnerships if they fail to uphold international humanitarian law.
Continental Divide and Opposition
Not all European countries support academic sanctions. Germany, Israel's closest ally in Europe, remains firmly opposed. Professor Walter Rosenthal, President of the German Rectors' Conference, argued that suspending Israel from Horizon Europe would "considerably weaken academia and research in Israel" and cause "lasting damage."
The Czech Republic and Hungary have also resisted such measures, highlighting the difficulty for Brussels in forging a common European position. Critics argue that academic sanctions undermine academic freedom and risk punishing individual researchers rather than the state itself.
Broader Implications for EU-Israel Relations
The debate extends beyond academia to test the EU's commitment to human rights principles. With over 62,000 casualties reported in Gaza since October 2023 and a UN-declared famine in Gaza City, the pressure on European institutions to take a stand continues to grow.
As Horizon Europe funding continues to flow to Israeli researchers, the continent remains divided between those advocating for ethical consistency in foreign policy and those prioritizing scientific cooperation and academic freedom. The outcome of this debate may reshape EU-Israel relations for years to come.
