As of December 2021, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey have applicable association agreements in place. Association agreements have also been signed with Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and Ukraine. They are currently undergoing national ratification procedures and are expected to enter into force shortly.
Association negotiations have been concluded with Albania, the Faroe Islands and Tunisia. The agreements are yet to be signed.
The United Kingdom will be associated by means of a Protocol to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Association negotiations with Morocco and exploratory talks with Canada are progressing.
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 Turkey, 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, Turkey, 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 Turkey.
On 27 October, the Commission and Turkey signed three agreements on association of Turkey 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 Turkey 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 information will be regularly updated
*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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21 December 2021