Both parties confirmed on Thursday morning that the UK will rejoin the European Union’s (EU) scientific research program Horizon Europe, worth 95.5 billion euros, after a two-year hiatus.
The deal means British scientists can once again benefit from EU funding and collaborate more closely with their European counterparts. This is a sign of increasingly positive diplomatic relations between the EU and the UK.
“The EU and the UK are important strategic partners and allies. Today’s agreement proves just that. We will continue to be at the forefront of science and research globally,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said a “tailor-made” deal had been reached, including “the terms of an advanced financial union”.
The UK is expected to contribute an average of €2.6 billion per year to Horizon Europe and Copernicus, the bloc’s satellite programme.
Sunak said his government would not participate in the Euratom nuclear program.
Continued participation in the inquiry was on Britain’s post-Brexit wish list, but could not materialize due to the ongoing dispute between London and Brussels over arrangements for Northern Ireland.
Negotiations resumed in February after the two sides reached a new agreement on the Windsor Framework, the post-Brexit arrangements.
The UK has previously been one of the main beneficiaries of EU grants under the Horizon programme, which is used to fund basic scientific and technological research.
British universities have repeatedly warned that a failure to gain access to EU research funds post-Brexit would seriously undermine UK academic leadership and trigger a brain drain.
British government ministers have been tasked with developing an alternative plan, known as Pioneer, in case a Horizon agreement cannot be reached with the EU.
Earlier this week, Ileana Ivanova, the EU’s new head of research, highlighted the importance of building stronger ties with “like-minded countries by linking them to the Union’s projects” and suggested that the UK’s involvement in the project could help. Protect more investment.
Brussels is currently negotiating with Switzerland regarding access to the Horizon programme.
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