The European Commission (EC) has suspended cooperation with Russia in the field of research and innovation, as well as in different cross-border programs, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, announced the Community Executive.
On the one hand, Brussels has left cooperation with Russian entities in research, science and innovation up in the air and will not enter into new contracts or new agreements with Russian organizations within the framework of the Horizon Europe programme.
In addition, it has suspended payments to Russian entities under existing contracts.
“All ongoing projects involving Russian research organizations are being reviewed, both under Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020, the former European Union (EU) research and innovation programme.”, the Commission said in a statement.
Furthermore, the Commission has suspended cooperation with Russia and Belarus in the cross-border cooperation programs of the European Neighborhood Instrument and in the Interreg Baltic Sea region programme.
“This means, among other things, that no further payments will be made to Russia or Belarus.”, specified the EC.
The suspension takes immediate effect for the nine programs involving Russia and Belarus and for the transnational Interreg Baltic Sea Region program under the 2014-2020 programming period.
At the same time, the Commission reported that it is reinforcing support for Ukraine.
“Russian military aggression is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law and the rule-based order. Suspending all cross-border and transnational programs and payments to Russia and Belarus and, at the same time, strengthening support for Ukraine is a concrete expression of European and cohesion policy solidarity with the Ukrainian people”, said the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira.
On the other hand, the EC noted that it continues to work at all levels to channel humanitarian and civil protection support to Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Romania and Slovakia are setting up logistics centers like the one Poland has already installed so that EU countries can deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The EU also has reserves of medical equipment in centers in Germany, Hungary and the Netherlands, which will send “as needs grow exponentially”, noted the EC.
Specifically, the Twenty-seven will be able to send material such as ventilators, infusion pumps, patient monitors, masks and gowns, ultrasound devices and oxygen concentrators.
Source: Gestion
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