COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/521

of 10 March 2025

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, amending and supplementing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 186, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) established the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon 2020, established by Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), for a period until 31 December 2028.

(2) Lebanon is one of 19 Participating States in PRIMA having concluded an agreement for scientific and technological cooperation setting out the terms and conditions for its participation in PRIMA (3) (‘the PRIMA Agreement’). The PRIMA Agreement is to remain in force for as long as Decision (EU) 2017/1324 is in force.

(3) Decision (EU) 2024/1167 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) extended PRIMA’s overall duration until 31 December 2031 and provided for Lebanon to continue to participate in PRIMA under Horizon Europe (5), subject to the conclusion of an agreement, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, amending and supplementing the PRIMA Agreement.

(4) Since Lebanon has expressed its interest in continuing to participate in PRIMA under Horizon Europe, it should formally accept the updated terms and conditions for such participation.

(5) To that end, on 9 November 2023, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2023/2621 (6) authorising the Commission to negotiate an agreement, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, amending and supplementing the PRIMA Agreement, setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of Lebanon in PRIMA under Horizon Europe (‘the Agreement’).

(6) The negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Agreement on 22 July 2024.

(7) Therefore, the Agreement should be signed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, amending and supplementing the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), is hereby authorised on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement (7).

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 10 March 2025.

For the Council

The President

A. DOMAŃSKI

(1) Decision (EU) 2017/1324 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2017 on the participation of the Union in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) jointly undertaken by several Member States (

OJ L 185, 18.7.2017, p. 1

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2017/1324/oj

(2) Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC (

OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1291/oj

(3) Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon setting out the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Lebanon in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) (

OJ L 79, 22.3.2018, p. 3

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2018/467/oj

(4) Decision (EU) 2024/1167 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324 as regards the continuation of the Union’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe (

OJ L, 2024/1167, 19.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1167/oj

(5) Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013 (

OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 1

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/695/oj

(6) Council Decision (EU) 2023/2621 of 9 November 2023 authorising the opening of negotiations for agreements, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, amending and supplementing the agreements for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Lebanon and the Kingdom of Morocco, respectively, setting out the terms and conditions for their participation with regard to Horizon Europe in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) jointly undertaken by several Member States (

OJ L, 2023/2621, 21.11.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2621/oj

(7) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/521/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)