In reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission announced on Friday 4 March that it would not sign new scientific cooperation contracts with Russian research organisations under the Horizon Europe framework programme. It will also stop any new payments related to projects that are co-financed through the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for the 2014–2020 period.
I have decided to suspend, “until further notice”, the preparations for a grant agreement for “four projects under the Horizon Europe programme that involve five Russian research organisations”, said EU Research and Innovation Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. Furthermore “I have asked my services to suspend any payment to Russian entities under existing contracts”, she added in a statement.
There are currently no projects involving Russian research organisations under Horizon Europe. Under the Horizon 2020 programme, 78 projects involving Russian entities remain operational.
Furthermore, the Commission is doing its utmost to facilitate continued cooperation with the Ukrainian scientific community.
In October 2021, Ukraine signed agreements to participate in Horizon Europe and the Euratom research and training programme.
Belarus. With regard to scientific cooperation with Belarus, organisations controlled by the government have no longer been eligible for European funding since October 2020.
Only private companies or civil society organisations can participate in Horizon Europe, but their number will be limited, according to the Commission, which is currently re-evaluating their existing cooperation with Belarus and the appropriateness of imposing any new restrictions. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)