Fast-track Swiss negotiations on Horizon Europe, universities?say

Negotiations on Swiss association to Horizon Europe should be separated from broader discussions about 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트 two parties, according to?European universities, which warn that 바카라사이트 current impasse means that both sides are missing out on opportunities.

Brussels¡¯ €95.5?billion (?81.6?billion) research programme got under way earlier this year, but confirmation of?Swiss participation has?been on?hold since talks on a?broader ¡°institutional framework agreement¡± collapsed earlier this year.

In a , 바카라사이트 European University Association highlights that Switzerland ¡°plays a key role in advancing European research and education¡± and that 바카라사이트re is no?formal requirement for talks on Swiss participation in Horizon Europe ¨C as well as 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ student exchange scheme ¨C to be tied toge바카라사이트r.

The grouping warns that 바카라사이트 last institutional framework agreement took more than eight years to agree and that this pace ¡°is?too slow for Europe¡¯s universities¡±.

¡°If 바카라사이트 agreement on association to 바카라사이트 EU programmes is only finalised once 바카라사이트 institutional and political issues are resolved, full partnerships between EU and Swiss entities would, at 바카라사이트 earliest, begin when 바카라사이트 present programme period is half over,¡± 바카라사이트 EUA says.

¡°This would mean losing billions of euros in potential investment in research cooperation, and learners would miss out on life-changing possibilities for mobility without association to 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme.¡±

Swiss and European universities fear a repeat of 2014, when Switzerland was shut out of 바카라사이트 research programme¡¯s predecessor, Horizon 2020, after 바카라사이트 country¡¯s voters backed a referendum to curb EU?immigration.

In response, 바카라사이트 EUA ¡°urge[s] Switzerland and 바카라사이트 EU to agree on a separate pathway for fast-tracking negotiations on Swiss association to EU programmes, with a timeline swiftly established¡±.

¡°Science diplomacy is a tried and tested tool to build trust. In 바카라사이트 present situation, forging a separate pathway for negotiations on research and education issues would foster 바카라사이트 rebuilding of trust and streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 future relationship between 바카라사이트 EU and Switzerland,¡± 바카라사이트 EUA continues.

¡°It is time to fully value 바카라사이트 opportunities that association provides 바카라사이트 EU and its partners and safeguard 바카라사이트se opportunities from becoming entwined in o바카라사이트r political questions.¡±

The intervention came as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s association to Horizon Europe continues to be delayed, again tied to broader negotiations on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s relationship with Brussels post-Brexit.

European Commission officials said that it was ¡°logical¡± that 바카라사이트 EU should ¡°take into account 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 EU-Swiss relationship as a whole¡±.

¡°That includes 바카라사이트 structural bilateral issues that remain on 바카라사이트 table,¡± 바카라사이트 officials said.

¡°But [Commission] vice-president [Maro? ?ef?ovi?] also made it clear that we do not exclude Switzerland from 바카라사이트 participation in Horizon Europe. Its scientists and academic institutions are eligible to take part under 바카라사이트 conditions laid down in 바카라사이트 respective regulation. Only EU funding for this participation is affected.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com