Brussels pledges ¡®immediate¡¯ Horizon talks once UK-EU deal done

The European Commission will ¡°start immediately¡± on?ratifying 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s association to?Horizon Europe once 바카라사이트 agreement on?Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland trade rules is?finalised, its?president Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Unveiling a new European-UK agreement at a joint press conference with prime minister Rishi Sunak, Ms?von der?Leyen said 바카라사이트 expected deal would allow talks to?resume about when Britain could join Europe¡¯s flagship €80?billion (?70.6?billion) research scheme.

The commission had blocked 바카라사이트 UK from finalising a deal on Horizon Europe association until agreement was reached on 바카라사이트 wider dispute over Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland ¨C seen as Brussels using 바카라사이트 research programme as a political bargaining chip ¨C which has been resolved three years after 바카라사이트 initial Brexit deal, and just over two years after Horizon Europe membership was agreed.

¡°This Windsor framework is good news for scientists and researchers ¨C in 바카라사이트 European Union and in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C because 바카라사이트 moment we have finished this agreement¡­바카라사이트 moment it is implemented, I?am happy to start immediately, right now, 바카라사이트 work of association agreement, which is 바카라사이트 precondition for joining Horizon Europe,¡± explained Ms?von der?Leyen on 27?February.

¡°So good news for all those who are working in research and science,¡± she added.

The seven-year Horizon Europe programme started in February 2021, so 바카라사이트 UK would be joining part way through ¨C a complicating factor when it comes to agreeing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s financial contributions, which will come to more than ?1?billion a?year. The Westminster government has been covering 바카라사이트 costs of participation for UK researchers via a?guarantee scheme.

Sir Adrian Smith, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, said 바카라사이트 UK needed to ¡°swiftly secure access to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s international research programmes¡± now that 바카라사이트 impasse over Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland had been resolved.

¡°It is more than two years since 바카라사이트 government agreed association to Horizon Europe, Euratom and Copernicus ¨C two years of delays that have damaged science across Europe. These schemes support outstanding international collaboration, and 바카라사이트 sooner we join 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 better for everyone,¡± said Sir Adrian, who also welcomed unconfirmed reports that, following 바카라사이트 recent return to 바카라사이트 Treasury of a ?1.6?billion underspend that was intended for association to Horizon Europe, ¡°바카라사이트 money will be spent in subsequent financial years¡±.

The news over Horizon Europe was also welcomed by Dame Anne Johnson, president of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Academy of Medical Sciences, who said her organisation, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 wider scientific community, ¡°has repeatedly highlighted that full UK participation in Horizon Europe is 바카라사이트 best possible outcome for research and for 바카라사이트 health of people everywhere¡±.

¡°Achieving this would 바카라사이트 single biggest step we can take right now to deliver on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ambitions to be a world leader in science,¡± said Dame Anne.

Meanwhile, Sir John Hardy, chair of 바카라사이트 molecular biology of neurological disease at UCL, said it would be ¡°great news for UK science¡± if 바카라사이트 country could join Horizon Europe, although its years in 바카라사이트 wilderness will have already caused some damage.

¡°Dropping out of 바카라사이트se collaborative schemes did harm to our standing, and some of that harm will be irreversible: grants will have been written without us, and we will now have to try and rejoin 바카라사이트se networks, some of which we once led, as supplicants,¡± said Professor Hardy.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com