UK rejoins EU’s Horizon science program, strengthening ties.
Britain Rejoins EU’s Horizon Science Research Programme
By Alistair Smout
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain announced on Thursday its decision to rejoin the European Union’s flagship Horizon science research programme, putting an end to a two-year post-Brexit standoff with the EU over science funding.
The agreement, which excludes the EU’s Euratom nuclear research scheme, signifies a significant improvement in bilateral relations. It comes seven months after a trade dispute was resolved and has been warmly welcomed by British scientists.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office stated that he had secured “improved financial terms of association” with the Horizon project.
“We’ve taken the time to negotiate the right deal for the UK, a bespoke deal, which works in our interest,” Sunak told reporters. “(It) works in the best interest of our researchers and scientists but also in the best interest of British taxpayers.”
Sunak’s office also confirmed that Britain would associate with the European earth observation programme Copernicus, but not with the EU’s Euratom programme. Instead, the country will pursue a domestic fusion energy strategy.
“Today’s political agreement on the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe and Copernicus will strengthen science across the whole of Europe,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Under the Brexit trade agreement signed in 2020, Britain negotiated access to various EU science and innovation programmes, including Horizon, which has an annual budget of 95.5 billion euros ($102 billion) and is the EU’s largest funding programme for researchers.
The EU initially blocked Britain’s participation due to a dispute over post-Brexit trade rules concerning Northern Ireland. However, the resolution of that dispute in February opened the door for Britain to rejoin Horizon Europe.
During negotiations, Britain had questioned the amount it needed to pay to rejoin, considering the two years it had missed. The country had guaranteed funding for UK applicants to Horizon while discussions were ongoing.
According to the agreement, Britain will not have to pay for the time it was frozen out, and a “clawback” mechanism will compensate the country if UK scientists receive significantly less money than the government contributes.
“Today’s agreement in principle marks another step forward for the EU and UK to work together in the spirit of friendly cooperation on issues of shared interest,” said a joint statement by Britain and the European Commission.
Universities like Oxford and Imperial College London expressed their satisfaction with the deal, stating that it would facilitate collaborations on the world’s most pressing challenges. Scientists are hopeful that their work with European colleagues can flourish once more after the enforced hiatus.
($1 = 0.9328 euros)
(Reporting by Alistair Smout and Muvija M; additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan, editing by Elizabeth Piper, John Stonestreet and Mark Heinrich)
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