Egypt’s Horizon Europe Entry Tests EU’s Science Diplomacy Limits

According to science.org, the European Union announced on October 21 that Egypt has joined its flagship Horizon Europe research funding program, becoming only the second African nation after Tunisia to gain access to the €93.5 billion initiative. The agreement allows Egyptian researchers to compete for EU grants on similar terms as European counterparts through 2027, with Egypt contributing an estimated €4.5 million during 2025-27. The move drew immediate criticism from figures like German activist Patrick Breyer, who called it “complicity in authoritarianism,” while supporters like Jan Palmowski of the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities expressed hope it would strengthen researcher protections. Egypt’s chief negotiator Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry defended the country’s academic freedom record, though the Academic Freedom Index places Egypt in the bottom 10% of 179 countries surveyed. This controversial partnership raises critical questions about the intersection of science and diplomacy.

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The Troubling Precedent of Academic Freedom Compromises

The EU’s decision to admit Egypt despite its poor academic freedom record isn’t without precedent, but it establishes a dangerous new threshold. Horizon Europe already includes Turkey, which has participated in EU research programs for over two decades despite its own academic freedom challenges. However, Egypt’s position in the bottom 10% of the Academic Freedom Index places it among nations like Iran and North Korea, representing a significant lowering of standards. The EU’s argument that engagement can foster improvement has merit, but without robust, enforceable conditions, this becomes mere wishful thinking. The case of Hungary within the EU itself demonstrates how academic freedom can deteriorate even within the bloc’s regulatory framework, suggesting the problem isn’t confined to external partners.

The Tangible Risks of Surveillance Technology Proliferation

Patrick Breyer’s concern about EU funds developing “unethical surveillance technologies” that Egypt could use “to crush dissent” isn’t theoretical—it reflects a well-documented pattern in global technology transfer. Science diplomacy initiatives often struggle with dual-use technologies, where research intended for benign purposes can be adapted for surveillance or repression. Egypt’s security apparatus has demonstrated both capability and willingness to employ advanced monitoring technologies against domestic critics. The lack of specific safeguards in the Horizon Europe agreement regarding technology end-use creates a significant accountability gap. Researchers participating in joint projects may find their work contributing to systems that ultimately strengthen authoritarian control, raising both ethical and legal concerns under EU human rights frameworks.

The Ghost of Giulio Regeni and Researcher Safety

The 2016 torture and murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni hangs over this agreement as an unaddressed precedent. While the European Commission’s announcement emphasizes cooperation benefits, it provides no specific mechanisms for protecting foreign researchers working in Egypt on sensitive topics. Social science research, particularly studies involving labor, politics, or human rights, carries elevated risks in Egypt’s political environment. The agreement’s failure to address the Regeni case specifically or establish independent monitoring mechanisms for researcher safety suggests either diplomatic avoidance or insufficient consideration of non-technical research fields. This creates potential liability issues for European universities sending researchers to Egypt and may discourage participation in precisely the types of collaborative projects that could foster genuine academic exchange.

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Broader Strategic Implications for EU Science Diplomacy

The Egypt decision reflects the EU’s broader struggle to balance its stated values with geopolitical realities. As competition with China and Russia intensifies in Africa and the Middle East, the EU faces pressure to use all available tools, including scientific cooperation, to maintain influence. However, this pragmatic approach risks undermining the EU’s credibility as a values-based actor. The European Union’s global standing rests partly on its commitment to democratic principles and human rights. When scientific cooperation appears to excuse systematic academic repression, it damages this foundational identity. The arrangement also creates potential blowback if Egyptian researchers face retaliation for participation in EU-funded projects, which could strain diplomatic relations further rather than improving them.

Realistic Risk Mitigation Strategies That Should Be Implemented

Katrin Kinzelbach’s suggestion that “funders, universities, and scholars should implement adequate risk mitigation strategies” requires concrete implementation that currently appears lacking. Effective safeguards would include independent monitoring of academic freedom indicators, mandatory human rights due diligence for sensitive technology projects, and clear protocols for suspending cooperation in case of violations. The agreement’s preamble mentioning academic freedom as an objective lacks enforcement mechanisms, making it largely symbolic. Given Egypt’s academic freedom challenges, the EU should establish baseline protection standards and regular review processes rather than relying on hopeful engagement alone. Without these, the program risks becoming complicit in the very problems it claims to want to address.

The success of this partnership will ultimately depend on whether the EU can leverage its scientific influence to secure tangible improvements in academic freedom, rather than simply providing legitimacy to a problematic status quo.