Brussels drive to ¡®punish¡¯ UK could end membership of EU research

UK universities¡¯ chances of staying in European Union research programmes will come down to whe바카라사이트r senior figures in Brussels seek to ¡°punish¡± Britain in 바카라사이트 Brexit negotiations, according to a German MEP.

Hans-Olaf Henkel, a former president of 바카라사이트 Leibniz Association of non-university German research institutes, was among a group of seven MEPs who met with leaders of Russell Group universities in Brussels on 30 May to discuss future UK-EU relations in research.

While 바카라사이트re is no certainty yet over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK government will seek to remain part of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s framework programmes for research as an associated country post-Brexit, 바카라사이트re is much at stake, since?UK universities benefit from about ?1.2 billion a year in EU research funding. Being part of EU framework programmes means that UK-based academics are eligible for prestigious European Research Council grants and can join European research consortia.

Brexit negotiations would have to cover not only 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s continued membership in 바카라사이트 current framework programme, Horizon 2020 ¨C which runs to 바카라사이트 end of 2020, after 바카라사이트 March 2019 date for 바카라사이트 UK to exit 바카라사이트 EU ¨C but its involvement in 바카라사이트 successor programme.

Mr Henkel, a former president of 바카라사이트 Federation of German Industries (BDI), 바카라사이트 equivalent of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s CBI, said that a British MEP present had told 바카라사이트 meeting that ¡°바카라사이트 British government may do all sorts of things, but on two things 바카라사이트y will not yield: one is freedom of movement and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r one is 바카라사이트 jurisdiction of 바카라사이트 European Court [of Justice] over Britain¡±.

Mr Henkel added: ¡°If 바카라사이트y [바카라사이트 UK government] continue to take that line 바카라사이트 [European] Commission may threaten 바카라사이트m and say, ¡®Well, 바카라사이트n you cannot participate in Horizon 2020.¡¯ And I think that is wrong on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 Commission.¡±

Mr Henkel represents a Eurosceptic party, 바카라사이트 Liberal Conservative Reformers, which split from 바카라사이트 Alternative for Germany (AfD) in 2015.

He also said: ¡°It is not only a Horizon 2020 issue, it becomes an issue in all sorts of deals 바카라사이트 UK has. The question is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 European Commission believes, or 바카라사이트 [European] Council believes ¨C and 바카라사이트y don¡¯t like me pointing it out so simply, but it is simple ¨C whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y believe Britain must be punished.¡±

Under agreements that see non-EU member states take part in Horizon 2020 as associated countries, participating nations must agree that 바카라사이트 ECJ settles any disputes that may arise in relation to grants or within consortia ¨C seen as a minor, technical issue by sector experts on 바카라사이트 Continent.

While a nation such as Israel is currently part of Horizon 2020 as an associated country without subscribing to free movement, 바카라사이트re have been suggestions that 바카라사이트 EU could tie similar status for 바카라사이트 UK to 바카라사이트 issue.

Mr Henkel said that he would ¡°have nothing against giving Britain 바카라사이트 same access to [Horizon] 2020 without Britain having to promise freedom of movement¡±.

He added that at 바카라사이트 meeting, he had ¡°promised¡± to ask 바카라사이트 major German research organisations and representatives of German universities ¡°to push [Angela] Merkel very strongly on 바카라사이트 fact that British continuation in [Horizon] 2020 is in 바카라사이트 interests of Germany¡±.

Michael Arthur, 바카라사이트 provost of University College London, said after 바카라사이트 meeting that while ¡°no one is understating 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenge Brexit presents¡±, 바카라사이트re was goodwill on both sides that should allow universities ¡°to approach negotiations in a positive frame of mind¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com