On 8 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision formally approving the Agreement between the European Union and Japan on Japan's participation in Union programmes. The decision, based on Articles 186 and 212 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, follows a proposal from the European Commission and consent from the European Parliament. The Agreement includes a Protocol on Japan's association to Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation framework programme for 2021-2027, as an integral part.
The Council's decision marks the final step in the EU's internal approval process. The Agreement was previously signed subject to later conclusion under Council Decision (EU) …/… (document ST 8279/26). The General Secretariat of the Council will publish the date of the Agreement's entry into force in the Official Journal of the European Union. The decision itself enters into force on the date of its adoption.
Japan's association to Horizon Europe will allow Japanese researchers, universities, and companies to participate in the programme's calls for proposals on equal terms with EU entities, subject to the specific conditions laid out in the Protocol. This is expected to deepen EU-Japan cooperation in science and technology, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, climate research, and health. For the EU, the agreement broadens the pool of research partners and may accelerate innovation. For Japan, it provides access to one of the world's largest research funding programmes, with a budget of €95.5 billion. However, Japanese participants will be required to contribute financially to the programme, and the terms of intellectual property rights and project management will follow Horizon Europe rules. The agreement does not cover participation in other EU programmes beyond those explicitly listed, and further protocols may be needed for future framework programmes.
The decision is a legislative act of the Council, adopted without debate as an 'A' item on the agenda of the General Affairs Council. The European Parliament had given its consent on an unspecified date. The Commission is expected to manage the practical implementation of the association, including the signature of the Protocol and the establishment of joint committees to oversee cooperation.