On Wednesday 30 October, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) validated the opening of negotiations with the Republic of Singapore with a view to reaching an agreement on the general principles of its participation in EU programmes and its association with the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (2021-2027).
The European Commission will thus receive authorisation to open these negotiations, considering that Singapore fulfils the criteria for association with the Horizon Europe programme as a third country. These criteria include recognition of good scientific, technological and innovation capabilities and a commitment to an open, rules-based market economy.
In its draft decision, the Council of the EU states that negotiations on issues relating to the general conditions for the Republic of Singapore’s participation in EU programmes will be conducted in consultation with the Asia/Oceania Working Party, while issues relating to the specific conditions for participation in the Horizon Europe programme will be conducted with the Working Party on Research.
Coreper’s decision will then have to be validated by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) on 5 November.
To see the decision: https://aeur.eu/f/e2y (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)