Protesters gathered in Nicosia on Friday, calling for Israel’s expulsion from the EU’s Horizon Programme. This demonstration was part of a larger EU-wide campaign, with similar protests occurring in over 20 cities, primarily driven by students and researchers.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Approximately 30-40 activists braved the cold outside the EU Commission building, with one speaker drawing attention to the plight of people in Gaza, where three children reportedly died from the cold within a 24-hour period. The stark contrast between the conditions faced by protesters and those in Gaza was a recurring theme throughout the speeches.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Chants echoed through the evening air, as slogans such as ‘EU Horizon, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!’ rang out, capturing the urgency of their message. One activist highlighted the significance of the Horizon Programme, stating, “Horizon is a €95 billion EU programme for funding research and innovation.” This funding includes a “privileged deal” for Israel, which allows the country to participate on par with EU member states.
Since 2014, Israel has received approximately €300 million annually from the Horizon Programme, leading to claims that around €3 billion of EU funding has gone to a state accused of genocide. The demonstrators pointed to various projects funded through Horizon, including those related to Israeli aerospace industries, anti-terrorism programmes, and military drones allegedly used in the conflict.
One speaker expressed frustration with the European Commission’s handling of Israel’s participation, noting that since the escalation of conflict on October 7, there has only been fleeting consideration of suspending Israel from the programme. A proposed partial suspension, which would reduce collaboration by only 20 per cent, was described as a “meaningless proposal” and hypocrisy given the swift action taken against Russia in April 2022.
“In April 2022, the European Commission suspended Russia entirely and immediately from Horizon, demonstrating that the procedure is perfectly applicable when said gestures align with Western interests,” the activist concluded, reinforcing a call for consistent policy that addresses human rights concerns across all nations.
