1Council Decision (EU) 2026/222 of 20 January 2026 authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Commonwealth of Australia, of the other part, on the participation of the Commonwealth of Australia in Union programmes and the association of the Commonwealth of Australia to Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027)

Council Decision (EU) 2026/222 of 20 January 2026 authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Commonwealth of Australia, of the other part, on the participation of the Commonwealth of Australia in Union programmes and the association of the Commonwealth of Australia to Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 186 and 212, in conjunction with Article 218(3) and (4) thereof, Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission, Whereas: Negotiations should be opened with a view to concluding an agreement on the participation of the Commonwealth of Australia in Union programmes and the association of the Commonwealth of Australia to Pillar II of Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027), HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations, on behalf of the Union, for an agreement on the participation of the Commonwealth of Australia in Union programmes and the association of the Commonwealth of Australia to Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027).

Article 2

The negotiations shall be conducted on the basis of the negotiating directives of the Council set out in the addendum to this Decision.

Article 3

The Commission is hereby nominated as the Union negotiator.

Article 4

The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the Asia-Oceania Working Party for matters related to the general conditions for the participation of the Commonwealth of Australia in any Union programmes and with the Research Working Party for matters related to the specific conditions for the participation of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Horizon Europe programme.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to the Commission. Done at Brussels, 20 January 2026. For the Council The President M. Keravnos