Our letters and opinion pieces
AURDIP regularly publishes letters to call on our government agencies and institutions to take action, or opinion pieces (sometimes in collaboration with other organizations) to reach the general public.
Category: Our actions
Our working groups
The AURDIP Board of Directors is proposing the creation of several working groups. If you are interested in these groups, please contact the designated coordinators for each one.
Our press review
AURDIP has established an editorial committee responsible for compiling a press review and deciding on the content that will appear on our website. In addition, translators are responsible for translating into French certain articles that we consider important and for which we have obtained permission.
Our public speeches
AURDIP regularly participates in conferences and roundtable discussions at universities, the National Assembly, museums, and other venues and events organized for the general public.
Gaza – The selective silence of the Academy
The AURDIP publishes and endorses the open letter “Gaza – The selective silence of the Academy,” addressed to the Academy of sciences. Signed to date by more than 500 academics and researchers, this letter denounces the stark contrast between the institution’s swift reaction in support of Ukrainian scientists and its silence in the face of the destruction of Gaza’s universities and the international crimes of which Palestinians are victims.
The EU Commissioner for Research denies any ethical or legal issues with Horizon research funding to Israel
On October 15, a delegation representing European academics, with AURDIP among them, was received by the office of Commissioner Zaharieva, who is in charge of start-ups, research, and innovation at the European Commission. Here is the meeting report and the press release. We came away deeply disappointed, and the situation calls for further action.
AURDIP Letter to University Presidents in France on EU-Israel Cooperation
In a letter addressed to university leaderships, Ivar Ekeland, vice-president of AURDIP, calls on French institutions to join their Belgian counterparts in demanding the suspension of the cooperation agreement between the European Union and Israel. This agreement, which allows Israel to participate in research programs such as Horizon Europe, is supposed to be conditional on respect for human rights — a condition now blatantly violated in light of the situation in Gaza.
While the International Court of Justice has deemed it plausible that a genocide is underway, and humanitarian organizations denounce mass atrocities, Europe’s inaction is becoming morally untenable. French universities, long silent on the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, are now urged to take a stand. It is time for the academic community — so swiftly mobilized for Ukraine — to live up to the principles it claims to uphold.
Will the European Union Stop funding Israeli institutions?
The EU continues to grant Israel privileges through the EU-Israel Association Agreement, despite Article 2 of the agreement stipulating “respect for human rights”. Additionally, Israeli academic institutions continue to enjoy a privileged status as partners of European universities, receiving over €2.6 billion in EU research funding since 2007. 75 organizations, and 4500 university staff and students, have signed a petition to the EU demanding that this collaboration MUST END.
Google takes down academic petition “STOP European Funding for Israeli Institutions – Stop Complicity in Genocide, Occupation and Apartheid”
In the early hours of 5 June, Google took down our running petition “STOP European Funding for Israeli Institutions – Stop Complicity in Genocide, Occupation and Apartheid” from its platform Google Drive, and blocked the associated account without prior notice. There was no element in our petition that violated their terms of service or stated policy.
Fermiamo i finanziamenti europei alle istituzioni israeliane. Mettiamo fine alla complicità europea nell’occupazione, nell’apartheid e nel genocidio
Questa petizione, firmata da AURDIP e da altre organizzazioni accademiche europee, chiede all’Unione Europea di porre fine alla sua complicità con Israele per quanto riguarda la guerra genocida contro Gaza e la violazione del diritto internazionale. L’UE continua a continuo finanziare le università israeliane, profondamente legate all’apparato militare e di occupazione, mentre le università palestinesi vengono sistematicamente distrutte.
La petizione chiede all’UE di:
- Cancellare tutte le cooperazioni accademiche e di ricerca con le istituzioni israeliane.
- revocare a Israele lo status di nazione associate a Horizon Europe
- Ricostruire le istituzioni accademiche palestinesi
- Indagare in maniera efficace sull’impatto che i finanziamenti passati e odierni dell’UE alla ricerca in Israele hanno avuto e hanno ancora sui diritti umani.
Per concludere, la petizione esige che l’Unione Europea imponga sanzioni, compreso un embargo sulle armi, e utilizzi la sua influenza per far rispettare il diritto internazionale. Il documento è aperto ai ricercatori, al personale universitario e agli studenti che possono firmarlo compilando questo modulo.