UK officials have advised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to allow them to seal a deal to re-join the European Union’s science programs, paving the way for a resumption of close ties between some of the world’s top research hubs.
(Bloomberg) — UK officials have advised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to allow them to seal a deal to re-join the European Union’s science programs, paving the way for a resumption of close ties between some of the world’s top research hubs.
While key details have yet to be settled with the EU, British negotiators have presented the premier with a proposed framework for a potential deal to access the EU’s Horizon research fund, according to a person familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity disclosing private conversations. Sunak is expected to decide in September whether to green-light a final push for a deal, they said.
The person declined to disclose details of the proposal that’s been drawn up so far and said talks are ongoing. Sunak has a number of opportunities next month to discuss an agreement at political level with European leaders, including at the G20 summit in India and the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Signing the deal would close a fissure that opened up between the UK and EU after Brexit, underscoring the growing rapprochement between the two since Sunak took power in Britain last year. It would also end a European freeze on access by British scientists to the €95.5 billion ($105 billion) Horizon program, opening up more opportunities for collaboration with European universities in the process.
Prior to Brexit, Britain was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the funding, and without it, some of the UK’s best universities — including Cambridge — have warned that they risk losing funding, mobility and vital collaboration with continental scientists.
Last year, the UK launched formal dispute proceedings against the EU for blocking its access to the program as relations deteriorated amid wrangling over the post-Brexit status of Northern Ireland when Boris Johnson was Prime Minister. Sunak’s agreement over the region’s trading arrangements earlier this year helped mend trust and collaboration between the UK and EU, with the two striking a deal on financial services shortly after. A deal on Horizon would cement those games and suggest relations are continuing to thaw.
A UK government spokesperson said talks are ongoing and no deal has been agreed or finalized. “Whilst our preference is to associate with Horizon, any deal must be value for money for taxpayers and in the best interests of UK science and research,” the spokesperson said.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.