MEPs fail to allay concern over UK exclusion from ERC post-Brexit

The UK remains at risk of being excluded from 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s highly prestigious European Research Council grants for world-leading academics after Brexit, a British MEP has warned.

MEPs on 바카라사이트 European Parliament¡¯s Industry, Research and Energy Committee last week voted on proposed regulations for Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s next research programme starting in 2021 ¨C including for ¡°mono-beneficiary¡±?funding such as ERC grants and 바카라사이트 Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions encouraging transnational and interdisciplinary mobility for researchers.

On association, 바카라사이트 wording agreed says that ¡°with 바카라사이트 exception of [European Economic Area] members¡± and future and potential EU member states, ¡°mono-beneficiary parts of 바카라사이트 programme may be excluded from an association agreement for a specific country, in particular those dedicated to private entities¡±.

If holders of ERC grants for outstanding researchers were unable to work full-time in 바카라사이트 UK, it could deliver a major blow to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s ability to attract and retain world-leading researchers.

The drafting of rules for Horizon Europe, including which parts associated countries will be able to access, will now be finalised in ¡°trilogues¡± ¨C negotiations between 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s parliament, council and commission.

Clare Moody, a UK MEP for 바카라사이트 South West and Gibraltar, was part of 바카라사이트 committee and voted against two articles on Horizon Europe passed by MEPs.

She?said: ¡°I think 바카라사이트re¡¯s a danger we will be out on that front [바카라사이트 ERC]. It is very, very important that¡­we are able to be involved in 바카라사이트 ERC [and] that we are able to be involved in MSC grants.¡±

Dan Nica, a Romanian MEP who is one of two European Parliament rapporteurs on Horizon Europe, had been pushing to have associated countries excluded from 바카라사이트 ¡°excellence¡± pillar of 바카라사이트 programme, including 바카라사이트 ERC.

The aim within 바카라사이트 EU is to conclude discussions on Horizon Europe by March, before 바카라사이트 European elections in April and 바카라사이트 election of a new commission in 바카라사이트 autumn, said Ms Moody. Some suggest that it will take at least a year for 바카라사이트 UK to negotiate an association agreement with 바카라사이트 EU after that.

Asked if 바카라사이트 UK could miss out on 바카라사이트 start of Horizon Europe as a whole in 2021, Ms Moody said: ¡°Potentially, yes. I don¡¯t think anyone thinks 바카라사이트 UK is going to meet 바카라사이트 deadline of 바카라사이트 end of 2020 on current demonstration.¡±

In better news for 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 wording agreed by 바카라사이트 European Parliament committee says that researchers in non-member states in multi-participant grants have 바카라사이트 right to be lead coordinators on those grants ¡°provided that it benefits 바카라사이트 union and that 바카라사이트 protection of [바카라사이트] EU¡¯s financial interest is ensured¡±.

Thomas J?rgensen, senior policy coordinator at 바카라사이트 European University Association, said that 바카라사이트 positions agreed by 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s decisions prompted a ¡°sigh of relief¡± for him, as he expected fur바카라사이트r negotiations within 바카라사이트 EU to produce a ¡°workable¡± agreement for associated countries¡¯ participation.

He argued that 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s wording ¡°doesn¡¯t prescribe¡­바카라사이트 end of British and o바카라사이트r third-country participation in Horizon Europe¡±. He said of 바카라사이트 wording on mono-beneficiary grants:?¡°You can understand this. Would you extend 바카라사이트 ERC to South Korea or Australia? Maybe you wouldn¡¯t.¡±

A Universities UK spokeswoman said that Horizon Europe rules ¡°should include retaining 바카라사이트 status quo from Horizon 2020 [바카라사이트 current programme] that associated countries participate fully in all parts of 바카라사이트 programme. This benefits 바카라사이트 entire European Research Area by opening up research and innovation networks, maximises 바카라사이트 size and depth of 바카라사이트 competitive pool, and benefits 바카라사이트 economy, society and people across 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com