Israel has become the first non-European country to be associated with the European Union’s non-nuclear research program.
Israel’s new status became official after Israel’s ambassador to the European Union, Efraim Halevy, signed a scientific and technological cooperation accord with E.U. officials here last week.
The agreement is part of a broader association accord signed in November in Brussels by Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the union’s 15 member states.
Under the terms of the scientific agreement, Israeli scientists will participate in 16 research programs now financed by the European Union.
European scientists will in turn be allowed to become involved in Israeli- initiated projects.
The accord also calls for Israel to contribute about $37.5 million annually to a program of jointly financed research projects.
The scientific accord reflects a “deepening of Israel’s relations with the European Community and a recognition of its high level of research,” Israel’s mission to the European Union said in a statement.
Edith Cresson, a former French prime minister who now serves as European commissioner in charge of research, voiced a similar sentiment at the March 25 signing ceremony.
“This agreement will allow European scientists to work in close cooperation with toplevel scientists in many of the advanced sectos where Israel has a leading position,” she said.
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