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EU and UK Negotiators are meeting again today to discuss UK participation in #HorizonEurope.
Wellcome has teamed up with over 100 organisations and individuals to set out how to unstick this important part of the post-Brexit negotiations.
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Wellcome has teamed up with over 100 organisations and individuals to set out how to unstick this important part of the post-Brexit negotiations.
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Today we've published an extensive briefing on how to tackle sticking points that are preventing an agreement on UK Horizon Europe participation.
Compromise is needed on both sides, but it's possible.
https://wellcome.ac.uk/sites/default/files/reaching-agreement-uk-participation-horizon-europe.pdf
Compromise is needed on both sides, but it's possible.
https://wellcome.ac.uk/sites/default/files/reaching-agreement-uk-participation-horizon-europe.pdf
Organisations across the UK and Europe have come together to support this statement - signatories include bodies like UUK, Russell Group, EUA, LERU, alongside big hitters like @Moedas & @PascalLamyEU.
This isn't a UK thing - the research community across Europe care about this
This isn't a UK thing - the research community across Europe care about this
As a research community, we’ve spent the past four years making general, high-level statements about the importance of international collaboration.
Now it's time to get down the details of how it could actually work.
Now it's time to get down the details of how it could actually work.
Horizon Europe has been discussed at every stage of the negotiations.
But best intentions are not enough, and as it's stands we're extremely concerned that the UK won't fully association to the programme. Both sides need to get real and approach this with a spirit of compromise.
But best intentions are not enough, and as it's stands we're extremely concerned that the UK won't fully association to the programme. Both sides need to get real and approach this with a spirit of compromise.
The biggest stumbling block is financial contributions.
The UK needs to accept that it will no longer be a net beneficiary of the programme—but, equally, the EU cannot expect large economies to gamble so much on association.
The UK needs to accept that it will no longer be a net beneficiary of the programme—but, equally, the EU cannot expect large economies to gamble so much on association.
The EU has proposed a one-way correction mechanism to ensure that non-member states cannot win more than they put in.
But there needs to be an equivalent safety net in the other direction. Otherwise the UK could pay billions over the programme for the intangible benefits.
But there needs to be an equivalent safety net in the other direction. Otherwise the UK could pay billions over the programme for the intangible benefits.
These intangible benefits - access to networks and infrastructure, status of playing in the Champions League - are important and valuable. But the amount to pay for them isn't unlimited.
That's why there needs to be a cap on the net financial cost.
That's why there needs to be a cap on the net financial cost.
But this isn't just about trying to woo the UK.
The original intention of Horizon Europe was to be 'open to the world'. If terms to attract the UK to join can't be found then what chance is there that other larger economies will want to join? That would seriously limit ambition
The original intention of Horizon Europe was to be 'open to the world'. If terms to attract the UK to join can't be found then what chance is there that other larger economies will want to join? That would seriously limit ambition
The UK will need to make compromises too. It’s reasonable for EU institutions to have a role in overseeing how programme funds are spent, and there's really no affect on national laws to worry about. The USA and others accept similar arrangements.
An agreement on Horizon Europe also needs to include something on mobility. This is fundamental to the functioning of the programme. In practice, the UK's Global Talent Visa puts a lot of what would be needed in place, so there should be no concerns here either.
This is crunch time for the negotiations. It's still possible to succeed in the time available, but rapid progress is needed.
Future generations are counting on negotiators to make this work.
Future generations are counting on negotiators to make this work.
Read more about this in our op-ed for Research Fortnight (ÂŁ) https://www.researchprofessional.com/0/rr/news/europe/views-of-europe/2020/7/How-to-unstick-Brexit-talks-on-Horizon-Europe.html#sthash.UgYuDPYU.dpuf
Check out the full statement and the amazing list of UK and EU signatories here (pdf) https://wellcome.ac.uk/sites/default/files/reaching-agreement-uk-participation-horizon-europe.pdf
