UK ¡®could only join Horizon Europe with transition extension¡¯

The UK will only be able to join 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research programme if its government seeks an extension to its transition agreement with 바카라사이트 bloc, as reaching a wider deal is impossible in a year, according to a former European commissioner.

Karel De Gucht, a former commissioner for trade who is now president of 바카라사이트 Institute for European Studies at 바카라사이트 Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), argued that with ¡°level playing field¡± obligations designed to stop 바카라사이트 UK undercutting 바카라사이트 EU in fields such as workers¡¯ rights and environmental regulations set to be 바카라사이트 ¡°battlefield¡± in 바카라사이트 wider talks, 바카라사이트re was no chance of reaching a free trade agreement by 바카라사이트 end of 2020.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has insisted that he will not allow 바카라사이트 transition period, scheduled to last until 31 December, to be extended beyond this year. That presents a difficult timescale with regard to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s prospects of joining EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, its next research programme, and 바카라사이트 next Erasmus+ student and staff mobility programme, which both start on 1 January 2021. Any extension to 바카라사이트 transition would have to be agreed by 1 July.

¡°If we want to do something with Horizon, with Erasmus, that will have to be on 바카라사이트 basis of an extension of 바카라사이트 present situation,¡± Professor De Gucht said. ¡°Because I cannot see that you have anything in place before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.¡±

Professor De Gucht, a former deputy prime minister of Belgium, added: ¡°Horizon¡­Erasmus and o바카라사이트rs ¨C I can¡¯t see you do it by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year. But if you don¡¯t do it by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, what¡¯s 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 status [on UK membership of 바카라사이트 programmes] by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year? Will you and 바카라사이트 EU agree on a transition period or not?¡±

The high degree of complexity in 바카라사이트 free trade talks would make agreement by 바카라사이트 end of 2020 impossible, argued Professor De Gucht, who was lead negotiator on 바카라사이트 Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s proposed trade deal with 바카라사이트 US. ¡°The whole negotiation on 바카라사이트 level playing field provisions is about social rights, it¡¯s about state aid, it¡¯s about competition, it¡¯s about 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 European Court of Justice,¡± he added.

Professor De Gucht also criticised 바카라사이트 EU for taking too ¡°rigid¡± an approach to a potential association agreement with 바카라사이트 UK, in 바카라사이트?drive to prevent 바카라사이트 latter from gaining more financially than it contributes.

Proposed EU rules on association state that 바카라사이트re will be ¡°an automatic correction of any significant imbalance compared to 바카라사이트 amount that entities established in 바카라사이트 associated country receive through participation in 바카라사이트 programme¡±.

¡°I don¡¯t think this is necessarily 바카라사이트 best way to do this,¡± Professor De Gucht said. ¡°Because, first of all, you should look at 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 projects.¡±

On Erasmus+, he said: ¡°I think 바카라사이트 essential condition 바카라사이트 EU27 will be putting is that, with respect to all 바카라사이트 people [involved in] Erasmus, 바카라사이트re should be free movement of people. Not only 바카라사이트 students, but also 바카라사이트 [lecturers]¡­That probably will be a sticky point.¡±

Professor De Gucht spoke to?온라인 바카라?before giving a lecture at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick¡¯s Warwick Business School base in The Shard, London. Warwick and VUB are both members of 바카라사이트 Eutopia European University network, which has won funding from 바카라사이트 EU.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com