Israel and the European Union signed a key co-funded scientific research program on Sunday, despite guidelines barring funding to projects beyond the 1949 Armistice Line, according to officials cited by Agence France Presse. The signing of the Horizon 2020 agreement took place at a ceremony in Jerusalem presided over by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
"Horizon 2020 offers a huge opportunity to enhance the traditionally active cooperation between Israeli and EU innovators. Under terms of the agreement, Israel will have the same access to the programme as EU member states," the European Commission said. Signing the deal, which makes Israel the only non-European country to benefit from the program, was made possible after the sides reached a compromise, under which it was agreed that Israel could add an appendix stating its non-recognition of the new guidelines.