Position paper
Danish position paper on international cooperation in Horizon Europe
All of Europe benefit greatly from international R&I cooperation with trusted partners outside of the Union. In the next decade, Horizon Europe should contribute to
reaching overall political goals, and to addressing global challenges. To a large
extent, global challenges require global cooperation. Therefore, Denmark is concerned about recent developments in terms of Horizon Europe and the possibilities for international cooperation.
Denmark strongly supports a smart, balanced and realistic EU approach to international cooperation with a stronger awareness on possible ethical and security
risks and dilemmas. However, the principle of strategic autonomy should not lead
to protectionism.
Denmark appreciates that Horizon Europe should be “as open as possible; as
closed as necessary”. The latter remains to be unfolded in the implementation
process as the relevant article in the regulation is open for interpretation. This
particular issue was raised by Denmark during the negotiations of the regulation.
The regulation makes it possible to exclude non-EU entities for strategic purposes.
However, in the lack of precise and clear principles, this should happen case-bycase, and based on specific strategic justifications. The draft eligibility criteria in
the draft work programme will exclude associated countries and third countries
from participation in a significant number of projects.
Denmark supports a stronger focus on our own strategic interest when entering
into international collaboration. In many instances, inclusion of trusted partners is
very much in our own interest, as these partners are front-runners in important
R&I-fields. Their participation is essential for cutting-edge Horizon-projects with
high impact that will help solve major challenges. This is not least the case for
long-term associated partners to the programme.
Horizon Europe is arguably such a highly esteemed brand around the world because of its openness to excellent researchers and innovators from outside the
EU.
Introducing wide exclusions would be detrimental to Horizon Europe’s positive
estimation and value in the long run. Like Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe must
remain “open to the world” in the full spirit of the Horizon Europe compromise.
Denmark urges the Commission to address this issue in close coordination with
Member States. Time may be short, but we must give ourselves the possibility for
both a principled discussion and a case-by-case examination of the proposed
exclusions and their due justifications before adopting the work programme.
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