On 8 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision authorising the signing and provisional application of an agreement allowing Japan to participate in Union programmes, including Horizon Europe. The agreement, initialled on 22 December 2025, establishes a framework for Japan's association to EU programmes, with a specific protocol detailing its participation in Horizon Europe's Pillar II 'Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness'. Japan formally expressed interest in associating to Horizon Europe on 1 April 2022, and the Council authorised negotiations on 15 May 2023. The agreement ensures a fair balance of contributions and benefits, grants Japan no decision-making power, and preserves the EU's rights to sound financial management. Provisional application will start from a date to be published in the Official Journal, pending completion of entry-into-force procedures. The decision itself enters into force on its adoption date. Japan's association to Pillar II will allow Japanese researchers and entities to participate in collaborative projects under Horizon Europe, contributing to global challenges and industrial competitiveness. The agreement is expected to strengthen EU-Japan research and innovation cooperation, with Japan contributing financially to the programmes it joins. The European Commission will now proceed with the signing, and the agreement will be provisionally applied once the date is published.
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