07/01/25 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 7 January, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced that the Republic of Korea had joined the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation framework programme on 1 January 2025, under a transitional agreement. Researchers and organisations from the Republic of Korea are thereby invited by the EU to participate in the calls and activities of the second pillar of the Horizon Europe programme ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’, from the 2025 work programme onwards. This transitional agreement follows the conclusion of negotiations between the European Commission and the government of the Republic of Korea concerning this second pillar of the programme (see EUROPE 13185/16). The association agreement is expected to be signed later this year. (PLD)