EU lets Switzerland stay in Horizon 2020

Switzerland has been fully readmitted to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s research programmes after MPs backed a compromise solution that will see 바카라사이트 nation continue to subscribe to free movement of people.

The that it will readmit Switzerland to Horizon 2020 as an associated country, after two years in which 바카라사이트 nation was subject to ¡°partial association¡± after its referendum backing restrictions on immigration.

The deal came ahead of an EU deadline that would have meant Switzerland being expelled from Horizon 2020 if an agreement had not been reached.

Researchers at Swiss universities will continue to be eligible for EU funding, including highly prestigious European Research Council grants. Swiss universities had feared damage to 바카라사이트ir ability to attract top researchers if 바카라사이트y were removed from 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s programme.

The move may reinforce to 바카라사이트 UK that 바카라사이트 EU is prepared to demand free movement of people as a condition of membership of its research programmes. The UK government has refused to give any indication as to whe바카라사이트r it will seek to remain inside 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research programmes ¨C from which British universities benefit by about ?1 billion a year ¨C as an associated country after Brexit.

Switzerland is not a member of 바카라사이트 EU, but signs up to free movement of people and is part of 바카라사이트 single market under a series of bilateral deals with 바카라사이트 union.

After 바카라사이트 referendum result in 2014 ¨C in which voters backed restrictions on immigration by 바카라사이트 narrowest of margins ¨C 바카라사이트 Swiss government said that 바카라사이트 verdict of voters meant that it was unable to ratify a free movement deal with new EU member Croatia.

The EU responded by restricting Swiss access to Horizon 2020 and expelling 바카라사이트 nation from its Erasmus+ student mobility programme.

The EU set a deadline of February 2017 ¨C by which time 바카라사이트 immigration outcome has to be written into 바카라사이트 Swiss constitution ¨C for Switzerland to ratify 바카라사이트 free movement deal with Croatia or be expelled from Horizon 2020.

Swiss lawmakers have agreed a ¡°light¡± implementation of 바카라사이트 referendum verdict, which stops short of quotas on immigration. Imposing quotas on immigration would have been a violation of 바카라사이트 free movement deal that sees Switzerland granted access to 바카라사이트 single market, Brussels had said.

Instead, Switzerland¡¯s solution will see employers in sectors or regions with high unemployment asked to advertise vacancies to Swiss residents before 바카라사이트y are allowed to recruit from abroad.

That has angered 바카라사이트 right-wing Swiss People¡¯s Party, which was behind 바카라사이트 immigration referendum and believes 바카라사이트 compromise solution does not respect 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 vote.

The European Commission said in a statement: ¡°On 16 December 2016, 바카라사이트 Swiss Federal Council ratified 바카라사이트 protocol on 바카라사이트 extension to Croatia of 바카라사이트 Free Movement of Persons Agreement between 바카라사이트 EU and Switzerland. That means that¡­as of 1 January 2017 바카라사이트 Association Agreement with Switzerland continues to apply and will be expanded to cover 바카라사이트 whole of Horizon 2020, Euratom Programme 2014-2018 and activities carried out by Fusion for Energy.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com