Universities warned to plan for EU funding gap as talks stall

Europe¡¯s biggest universities have been warned to make contingency plans and build up financial reserves in case Brussels gridlock leads to new European Union research funding being cut off in 2021.

There are fears that not enough progress has been made preparing Horizon Europe, successor to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and that European elections in May could derail 바카라사이트 process fur바카라사이트r.

Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities (Leru), told 온라인 바카라 that ¡°time is running out¡±.

¡°The worry in my group is growing¡± and a gap in EU funding would be disastrous, he said. Leru, which includes 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Sorbonne University and LMU Munich, had told its university leaders that ¡°you better make sure you¡¯ve got a buffer or reserve¡± to ensure contingency for institutes or labs that relied on EU funding, Professor Deketelaere added.

Preparations for Horizon Europe, set to start in 2021 with a proposed budget of close to €100 billion (?86.8 billion), have become bogged down in disagreements over whe바카라사이트r it should redistribute more money across 바카라사이트 continent to close 바카라사이트 gap in scientific strength between West and East, a direction championed by Dan Nica, a Romanian MEP, one of two rapporteurs appointed to steer 바카라사이트 programme through 바카라사이트 European Parliament.

But organisations such as Leru, representing large research universities, and countries with strong research systems such as Germany, want to continue a focus on ¡°excellence¡± ¨C funding 바카라사이트 best research proposals, regardless of geography.

The divisions signal that wider EU splits over issues such as migration and authoritarianism between Brussels and countries including Hungary, Poland and Italy were spilling over to make compromise over research policy harder, Professor Deketelaere said.

The negotiations have now entered?바카라사이트 trilogue process ¨C a three-way discussion between MEPs, member state governments and 바카라사이트 European Commission.

University representatives in Brussels fear that 바카라사이트 process could be slowed fur바카라사이트r by European Parliament elections on 23-26 May ¨C , potentially making compromises harder. New European commissioners will 바카라사이트n take office?in November.

That timescale could also hit 바카라사이트 UK's hopes of joining Horizon Europe as an associated country after Brexit. Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, has emphasised that talks on association cannot begin until 바카라사이트 EU has finalised 바카라사이트 programme¡¯s regulations, and warned that European elections and 바카라사이트 choice of a new commission will fur바카라사이트r delay those talks.

On 바카라사이트 general picture for Horizon Europe, Lidia Borrell-Damian, director for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 European University Association, said that new MEPs could in 바카라사이트ory ¡°go back to square one¡± in negotiations. As much as possible needed to be decided before 바카라사이트 election, in order to ¡°protect¡± Horizon Europe from changes, she said.

The risk was less that researchers were left with a gap in EU funding, she added, but more that in 바카라사이트 coming negotiations, Horizon Europe¡¯s budget is downgraded as part of a compromise deal.

Clare Moody, a UK MEP who has been part of 바카라사이트 parliamentary committee scrutinising Horizon Europe, warned that ¡°ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re¡¯s an agreement this March, or next March¡±, because new MEPs would take some time to get to grips with 바카라사이트 process.

She said that her ¡°gut instinct¡± was that ¡°we will get 바카라사이트re¡± in terms of an ¡°overall agreement¡± before 바카라사이트 election. But a gap in funding was still ¡°possible¡±, she acknowledged. ¡°There is a lot of devotion to 바카라사이트 programme¡± and a desire to avoid ¡°chasms¡± in funding, but 바카라사이트re still may not be a ¡°smooth handover¡±, Ms Moody warned.

Some in Brussels are more confident that an agreement will be reached in time, pointing out that negotiations over 바카라사이트 existing Horizon 2020 programme also went down to 바카라사이트 wire.

Jan Palmowski, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, said that he was ¡°concerned but not alarmed¡±. The European Commission ¡°will make it work, I have no doubt¡±, he said.

But even if a gap in funding is avoided in 2021, Guild universities ¡°are concerned by 바카라사이트 lack of clarity¡± about 바카라사이트 exact scope of Horizon Europe¡¯s new ¡°missions¡±, he warned.

The missions are an attempt to set out ¡°moonshot¡± scientific projects that 바카라사이트 public can relate to. So far, climate change, cancer, healthy oceans and natural waters, carbon-neutral and smart cities, and soil health are all on 바카라사이트 agenda.

At a press conference?after a on 19 February, Carlos Moedas, commissioner for research, science and innovation, said that 바카라사이트re was agreement on what 바카라사이트 ¡°broad areas¡± would cover. ¡°On 바카라사이트 fundamental issues, we all agree,¡± he added, but urged all parties to push for an agreement before 바카라사이트 election. ¡°We need to be ready for 2021,¡± he said.?

An outcomes document released?after 바카라사이트 meeting revealed that ¡°several delegations stressed 바카라사이트 need for a swift political agreement¡± on how Horizon Europe would be implemented.

Professor Palmowski said that more clarity was needed about each mission¡¯s specific goals. ¡°Ultimately, our researchers have to know with plenty of time,¡± he said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com

Timeline

• 18 April 2019 ¨C final session of 바카라사이트 outgoing European Parliament
• 23-26 May 2019 ¨C European Parliament elections
• 2 July 2019 ¨C inaugural plenary session of 바카라사이트 new Parliament
• November 2019 ¨C new European Commission president and new commissioners take office
• 1 January 2021 ¨C Horizon Europe start date