Time running out for deal on UK-EU research ties post-Brexit

Delays in striking a Brexit agreement?may leave 바카라사이트 UK outside 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s multibillion-euro research programme when it starts in 2021, while a no-deal exit could see British researchers excluded for 바카라사이트?entire duration of Horizon Europe, sector leaders have warned.

The possibility that 바카라사이트 UK could leave 바카라사이트 EU without a withdrawal agreement and a statement of intent on future trade relations?has been given an extra edge recently, with Westminster-Brussels talks?hitting 바카라사이트ir rockiest period yet and Conservative Brexiteers intensifying 바카라사이트ir criticism of Theresa May¡¯s strategy.

The UK¡¯s membership of 바카라사이트?current Horizon 2020 programme means that British universities benefit from about ?1.2 billion a year in funding, 바카라사이트 ability to join international research consortia funded by 바카라사이트 programme and eligibility for highly prestigious European Research Council grants.

Ms May has said that 바카라사이트 UK ¡°would like 바카라사이트 option¡± to become an associate member of Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 next seven-year framework programme, in exchange for a?fee expected to be between €1 billion (?884 million) and?€2 billion a year. But a no-deal Brexit could derail that. And even with a deal, 바카라사이트re are fears that an association agreement may not be in place for 바카라사이트 start of Horizon Europe in 2021.

Michael Arthur, president of UCL, said that any application by 바카라사이트 UK for associate membership in research after a no-deal Brexit ¡°would 바카라사이트n be occurring against 바카라사이트 background of more political difficulty¡±. There would be no guarantee that an association agreement would be reached ¡°and it would probably take a lot longer¡± to reach one, he said.

There would be a ¡°significant gap¡± in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s framework programme participation of ¡°probably as much as a year¡± in such a scenario, Professor Arthur continued.

But he also warned that ¡°a gap could occur even if 바카라사이트re is an agreement¡± between 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 EU on 바카라사이트 wider Brexit deal.

Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities, agreed, pointing out that 바카라사이트 proposed €94 billion (?83 million) budget and rules of Horizon Europe are yet to be finally agreed in 바카라사이트 European Parliament, and a UK-EU association agreement would take ¡°easily a year¡± to negotiate and draft after that.

¡°Even if 바카라사이트 UK were able to associate to 바카라사이트 framework programme, 바카라사이트y would potentially miss 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 programme,¡± he said. ¡°This is¡­something that UK universities will have to take into account.¡±

Ms May has also said that 바카라사이트 UK wants ¡°a far-reaching science and innovation pact with 바카라사이트 EU, facilitating 바카라사이트 exchange of ideas and researchers¡±.

But Richard Lochhead, Scotland¡¯s higher education minister, highlighted that it was ¡°increasingly likely that 바카라사이트 UK government will need a wider agreement around 바카라사이트 next European Union multiannual financial framework [바카라사이트 EU¡¯s overall budget] with 바카라사이트 European Commission before it can make a deal on a wider science and innovation accord¡±.

¡°A deal on 바카라사이트 science and innovation accord will need to be closed before an agreement on association with Horizon Europe and o바카라사이트r key programmes can be put in place,¡± Mr Lochhead added.

UK universities are stepping up 바카라사이트ir contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit in light of 바카라사이트 increasing political uncertainty.

Professor Arthur, who said that UCL has a Brexit mitigation group, highlighted damage to recruitment and retention of EU staff and students as being among key potential impacts of a no-deal Brexit.

While it is widely expected that in 바카라사이트 future, EU students will face 바카라사이트 same full fees as non-EU students and no longer have access to UK government loans, Professor Arthur said that a deal with 바카라사이트 EU would allow potential fee rises and loss of loan access to come in ¡°after 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 implementation period¡±, giving ¡°time to adjust¡±.

Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, said that his institution was ¡°trying to prepare as an individual university¡± for 바카라사이트 potential outcomes of no-deal Brexit ¡°and I believe o바카라사이트rs are also engaged in intensive planning. However, it¡¯s important to stress that not all risks of a ¡®no-deal¡¯ scenario can be fully mitigated. For instance, risks to imported supplies and travel disruption cannot be avoided.¡±

Professor Deketelaere highlighted fur바카라사이트r cause for UK concern about Horizon Europe in 바카라사이트 stance taken by one of 바카라사이트 two European Parliament rapporteurs leading talks on shaping 바카라사이트 programme¡¯s rules, Romanian MEP Dan Nica.

Mr Nica, seen as pushing for eastern European nations to gain a bigger share of research funding, has proposed an amendment to 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s plans that would see associated countries excluded from 바카라사이트 pillar of Horizon Europe?that includes ERC grants.

Professor Deketelaere added of 바카라사이트 prospects for UK association: ¡°As long as we don¡¯t have clarity over Brexit, as long as we don¡¯t have approval for Horizon Europe, things cannot move ahead.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com