Collaborations with Israeli partners – update 27 March 2026: Europe approves Ghent University’s withdrawal from OSTEONET

What is the current situation regarding ongoing collaborations with Israeli partners?

On 31 May 2024, Ghent University  decided to terminate the ongoing collaborations with Israeli partners that had been advised against by the Commission on Human Rights Policy and Dual Use Research (CMDUO). This is a complex undertaking involving the identification of various legal and financial risks for Ghent University and the staff members working on these projects.

Ghent University cannot unilaterally withdraw from its ongoing European collaborations with Israeli partners under the terms of the contracts; the mandatory procedure was discussed in detail in a previous update.  

Since 31 May 2024, Ghent University has initiated the withdrawal procedure for each of these projects. The OSTEONET project was the first in which a breakthrough was achieved.

What specific decision was taken regarding OSTEONET?

In September 2025, a majority agreement was reached within the OSTEONET consortium on the termination of Ghent University’s participation in the project on the grounds of its human rights policy. The next step involved the European Commission ruling on whether the termination of Ghent University’s participation in OSTEONET was ‘improper’ or ‘proper’, a distinction relating to potential sanctions.

The EC recently announced that it no longer opposes Ghent University’s withdrawal from OSTEONET. The EC did not rule on the ‘improper’ or ‘proper’ nature of the withdrawal. No sanctions were imposed on Ghent University in connection with its withdrawal from OSTEONET.

What is the significance of the withdrawal from OSTEONET for Ghent University?

By withdrawing from OSTEONET, Ghent University is taking an important step in its decision to terminate ongoing collaborations with Israeli partners that were advised against by the CMDUO. Furthermore, as far as is known, Ghent University is the only university to have succeeded in withdrawing from an ongoing European project on the basis of its human rights policy.

What does this withdrawal mean for the other ongoing collaborations between Ghent University and Israeli partners that have been assessed negatively?

By withdrawing from OSTEONET, Ghent University is setting an important precedent within Horizon Europe and the wider European research landscape. Ghent University can now step up its efforts to terminate the other collaborations with problematic Israeli partners.