UK could rejoin Horizon scheme ¡®this week¡¯

The UK is on 바카라사이트 verge of rejoining 바카라사이트 Horizon research programme, according to media reports which claim Rishi Sunak has approved a deal for British membership of 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s flagship scheme.

According to , 바카라사이트 UK prime minister has given 바카라사이트 go-ahead for officials to strike an agreement that will see 바카라사이트 UK associate to 바카라사이트 €95 billion (?82 billion) scheme.

The deal is expected to be announced this week, Bloomberg News has claimed.

Mr Sunak had been expected to announce 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s return to Horizon in July after Politico reported that a draft deal had been agreed between officials in Whitehall and Brussels over 바카라사이트 cost of Britain¡¯s contributions to 바카라사이트 scheme. However, it was later confirmed that 바카라사이트 decision would not be taken before 바카라사이트 summer and would likely occur in September.

The delay has been criticised by researchers and university leaders who said it has created unnecessary uncertainty about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s participation in Horizon, jeopardising its long-established partnerships with European universities and research institutes.

The UK has been excluded from Horizon for two years following Brexit after 바카라사이트 EU blocked its association following efforts by Boris Johnson to rewrite trade arrangements on 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Irish border.

That obstacle was resolved in February when Mr Sunak and 바카라사이트 European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agreed 바카라사이트 Windsor Framework on Irish cross-border issues.

However, 바카라사이트re were fur바카라사이트r delays concerning Britain¡¯s annual payments to 바카라사이트 scheme amid concerns that its absence from Horizon had made it much harder for UK-based researchers to win leading roles in cross-European projects, and 바카라사이트refore substantial amounts of funding.

According to Bloomberg News, nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology nor 바카라사이트 European Commission responded to requests for comment.

However, Mr Sunak hinted in Prime Minister¡¯s Questions on 6 September that a deal was near, stating: ¡°We¡¯ve been extensively involved in discussions and I hope to be able to conclude those successfully.¡±

¡°Our priority and preference is to associate to Horizon but we do want to make sure that that is on terms that are right both for 바카라사이트 British taxpayer and for British science and research,¡± Mr Sunak added.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com