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Research and innovation
Supplementary information21 December 2021Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

Updates on the association of third countries to Horizon Europe

Please note that the information displayed on this page is subject to regular updates

As of 1 August 2022, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye and Ukraine have applicable association agreements in place.

On 4 December, the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programme adopted the Protocol on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe, formalising the UK’s association to the Programme (with the exception of the EIC fund) as of 1 January 2024.

Association negotiations with Morocco continue. Discussions on association are progressing well with our like-minded global allies. The European Commission, after obtaining the relevant negotiating mandates from the Council, has launched formal negotiations with both Canada and New Zealand. While negotiations with New Zealand have been concluded on 20 December 2022.

At the Canada-EU Summit on 24 November 2023 President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Trudeau announced the conclusion of substantive negotiations for Canada’s association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe. Provided all necessary treaty-validation procedures are completed on both sides, Canada will be retroactively associated to Pillar II of Horizon Europe as of 1 January 2024.

Exploratory talks with Japan have been closed on 12 September 2022 and the two sides are currently intensifying preparatory technical discussions in view of a potential launch of formal negotiations.

Formal negotiations with the Republic of Korea have been launched on 22 May 2023 on occasion of the Summit.

Horizon Europe: The EU and the Republic of Korea launch formal negotiations on association to the programme

20 December 2022

The Commission and the New Zealand Government have concluded the negotiations for the association of New Zealand to the Horizon Europe programme. The signing of the Association Agreement is expected to take place in 2023, pending the completion of all necessary validations on both sides.

30 November 2022

On 30 November 2022, formal negotiations for Canada’s association to Horizon Europe have been launched.

9 June 2022

The Agreement associating Tunisia to Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027), entered into force, following its ratification by Tunisia. The Agreement applies with a retroactive effect from 1 January 2021.

The Agreement associating Ukraine to Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027) and to the Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025) entered into force, following its ratification by Ukraine. The Agreement applies with a retroactive effect from 1 January 2021.

30 May 2022

The Agreement associating Albania to Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027), entered into force on 30 May 2022. The Agreement applies with a retroactive effect from 1 January 2021.

24 May 2022

The agreement on the participation of the Faroe Islands to Union programmes, with a specific protocol on its association to Horizon Europe, was signed in Brussels and entered into application

20 May 2022

Exploratory talks on a possible association of Japan to Horizon Europe have been launched. The second round took place on 20 May 2022.

25 April 2022

Exploratory talks have been concluded with New Zealand and Canada, opening the way for formal association negotiations to take place in 2022 with both countries.

29 March 2022

The Agreement associating Tunisia to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme (2021-2027), was signed. The signature ceremony took place in a hybrid format in Brussels and in Tunis.

17 March 2022

Exploratory talks on Horizon Europe association have started on 10 February with New Zealand and on 14 March the Republic of Korea. Exploratory talks with Canada are ongoing.

11 February 2022

The Horizon Europe Association Agreement with Albania was signed

8 February 2022

The Horizon Europe Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina became provisionally applicable as of 11 January 2022.

The Horizon Europe Association Agreement with Georgia entered into force on 12 January 2022.

On 28 January 2022, a fourth round of informal exploratory talks took place with Canada.

12 January 2021

Following the political agreement on the text of the Horizon Europe (HE) regulation reached by the EU co-legislators on 11 December 2020, informal exploratory talks have been initiated by the DG R&I unit responsible for the Horizon Europe associations with third countries who have formally expressed an interest in becoming associated to the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

On 12 January 2021 such discussions took place with Tunisia, on 25 January with Georgia, on 26 January with Ukraine, on 27 January with Israel and on 28 January with Moldova. Meetings are planned for 2 February with Armenia and 5 February with the Faroe Islands.

For Ukraine, the meeting included as well a discussion on association to the Euratom Research and Training Programme. Other meetings have also been scheduled and the exploratory  talks will be held with all these third countries in due course.

5 February 2021

On 29 January 2021 informal exploratory talks took place with Türkiye, on 2 February with Armenia, on 3 February with North Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina, on 4 February with Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo* and on 5 February with Albania.

5 May 2021

On 28 April 2021 a second round of informal exploratory talks took place with Georgia, on 29 April with Ukraine, on 30 April with Tunisia and on 5 May with Israel.

4 June 2021

On 25 May 2021 a second round of informal exploratory talks took place with the Faroe Islands, on 27 May with Armenia and on the 28 May with Morocco.

16 July 2021

On 15 July 2021 a first round of informal exploratory talks took place with Canada.

22 September 2021

As per 22 September 2021, the following countries have successfully concluded the formal negotiations for an association to Horizon Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo*, Serbia, Türkiye, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. In the case of Ukraine, also the negotiations for association to the Euratom Research and Training Programme have been successfully closed.

24 September 2021

Norway and Iceland become the first countries to associate to Horizon Europe

Today, the Joint Committee of the European Economic Area (EEA) adopted the Decision formalising the association of Norway and Iceland to Horizon Europe.

12 October 2021

As per 12 October 2021, the European Commission has successfully concluded the formal negotiations for an association to Horizon Europe also with the Faroe Islands, Israel and Tunisia.

At the EU-Ukraine Summit in Kyiv, the EU and Ukraine signed the agreement that associates Ukraine to Horizon Europe and Euratom Research & Training programme. The association agreement will enter into force once Ukraine notifies the European Commission of the completion of the Ukrainian ratification process.

12 November 2021

As per 12 November 2021, the European Commission has successfully signed the association agreements with Armenia, Moldova and Türkiye.

On 27 October, the Commission and Türkiye signed three agreements on association of Türkiye to EU programmes for the period 2021-2027: Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme, Erasmus+, EU programme for education, training, youth and sport and the European Solidarity Corps. The Horizon Europe association agreement will start producing legal effects after its entry into force, that is once Türkiye completes its ratification process and an exchange of diplomatic notes takes place between the European Commission and the Turkish authorities.

On 27 October, the Commission signed as well the Horizon Europe Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova. The Agreement is expected to start applying provisionally very soon, the exchange of diplomatic notes to that end is under way between the Commission and the Moldovan authorities.

On 12 November, the Commission and Republic of Armenia signed the agreement on the association of the Republic of Armenia to Horizon Europe. The Horizon Europe Association Agreement will start producing legal effects after its entry into force, that is once Armenia completes its ratification process and an exchange of diplomatic notes takes place between the European Commission and the Armenian authorities.

7 December 2021

In the week of 6 December 2021 the European Commission has successfully signed the association agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as with Georgia and Israel.

On 6 December, the Commission and Israel signed the association agreement of Israel to Horizon Europe Programme. The agreement entered into force on the same day. Israel’s association is an opportunity to continue and further deepen research cooperation with the focus on mutual priorities such as the twin green and digital transition, public health as well as ground-breaking innovation.

On 6 December, the Commission signed the association agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The Agreement entered into force the same day for Montenegro and for Serbia. Albania is expected to follow early next year. This marks an important milestone for closer research and innovation cooperation with the Western Balkans.

On 7 December, the Commission and Georgia signed the agreement on the association of Georgia to Horizon Europe. The Horizon Europe Association Agreement starts producing legal effect and becomes provisionally applicable as of that day.

17 December 2021

On 15 December 2021, a fourth round of formal negotiations took place with Morocco.

 

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence

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Publication date
21 December 2021 (Last updated on: 1 August 2022)
Author
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation