30 Nov 2023
Second EU-Faroe Islands Joint Committee meeting takes place in Brussels
The second EU-Faroe Islands Joint Committee meeting under the Agreement on the participation of the Faroe Islands in EU programmes took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 27 November 2023.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Anne Haglund-Morrissey, Deputy Head of the ‘Horizon Europe Association’ Unit, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and by Mr. Poul Geert Hansen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Children and Education of the Faroe Islands. It was hosted by the European Commission, DG Research and Innovation.
The EU acknowledged the Faroese interest to strengthening and broadening its cooperation ties with the EU, praised the positive trend in Faroese participations in Horizon Europe, and emphasised the many open cooperation opportunities. The Faroese co-chair stressed that participation of the Faroe Islands in the Horizon Europe programme is very important for the country’s research and innovation ecosystem, providing valuable cooperation opportunities, and ensuring quality links with the community of international researchers and organisations.
During the meeting, the Joint Committee adopted and the co-chairs signed its Rules of Procedure pursuant to Article 14(3) of the Horizon Europe Agreement between the EU and the Faroe Islands. Key points addressed at the meeting included policy updates on key R&I developments on both sides, and exchanges on subjects pertinent to the association of the Faroe Islands to Horizon Europe, such as the financial contribution with its automatic correction mechanism, the implementation of the reciprocity principle, and support measures offered by both Parties. The Joint Committee took stock of the Faroese performance in the Horizon Europe programme so far, addressing the participation in the 2021-2023 calls. The discussions focused on the current involvement and potential future opportunities for the Faroe Islands in the European Research Area Policy actions, the New European Innovation Agenda, and in different parts of Horizon Europe, such as the Widening actions, European Partnerships, and EU Missions, as well as COST. Both sides highlighted efforts and actions to be taken in order to further encourage the participation of Faroese entities in the programme, and to make the most of the collaboration under association terms.
The meeting paves the way for strengthened EU-Faroese research and innovation cooperation.
For more information: