Belgian university council fills complaint over lack of clarity on cooperation with Israeli institutions

The Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) has filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman, an independent body of the EU that investigates maladministration in EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, over "the persistent lack of clear answers and guidelines regarding the participation of Israeli institutions in the European research programme Horizon Europe".

VLIR stated on 29/10/2026 that it filed the complaint against the European Commission as, despite repeated joint inquiries with the French-speaking Rectors' Council of Belgium (CREF), the Commission has failed to respond.

VLIR explained that Flemish universities have invested in procedures and tools, such as the interuniversity human rights assessment and further development of ethics committees, but that, at the EU level…