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18 months after TCA, the EU has refused to finalise UK
access to science programmes
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Government has written to EU Commission to launch
dispute resolution proceedings
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Foreign Secretary calls it “clear breach” of
agreement
The Government has launched formal consultations with the EU, in
an effort to end persistent delays to the UK’s access to EU
scientific research programmes, including Horizon Europe.
Formal consultations is a mechanism set out in the UK-EU Trade
and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) to resolve disputes between the
UK and EU.
The UK negotiated access to a range of EU science and innovation
programmes as part of the TCA in 2020. However, more than 18
months later, the EU has still refused to finalise UK access,
causing serious damage to research and development in both the UK
and EU Member States.
The delays have prevented the UK from accessing Horizon Europe,
the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation, as
well as Copernicus, the earth observation programme, which
provides data on climate change. Other affected schemes include
Euratom – the nuclear research programme - and access to
programme services including Space Surveillance and Tracking.
Now the Government has written to the European Commission to
launch dispute resolution proceedings and to encourage the EU to
abide by their obligations in the deal.
Foreign Secretary said:
“The EU is in clear breach of our agreement, repeatedly
seeking to politicise vital scientific cooperation by refusing to
finalise access to these important programmes. We cannot allow
this to continue. That is why the UK has now launched
formal consultations and will do everything necessary to protect
the scientific community.”
Minister for Europe, said:
“It is disappointing that the EU has not facilitated UK
participation in the agreed scientific programmes, despite
extensive UK engagement on the issue. Now more than ever the UK
and the EU should be working together to tackle our shared
challenges from net zero to global health and energy
security. We look forward to constructive engagement
through the formal consultations”.
UK membership of Horizon Europe would be a win-win for both the
UK and EU. The UK is a world leader in science and technology,
houses some of the most research intensive universities in the
world and led the global effort to combat Covid-19. The UK
has set aside around £15bn for Horizon Europe alone
The EU’s research and innovation community has been calling on
the European Commission to associate the UK to these programmes.
The UK Government also continues to seek association so that
collective work to solve the greatest economic and societal
challenges can continue.
In the event that association is not formalised, the government
has prepared an alternative set of programmes to support UK
scientists and researchers: Supporting UK R&D and
collaborative research beyond European programmes.
The UK Government is ready to work together with the European
Commission to resolve this issue and looks forward to
constructive engagement during consultations.
Further Background on TCA
- In December 2020, the UK and EU signed a Joint Declaration on
Participation in Union Programmes and Access to Programme
Services, setting out the parties’ shared commitment for the UK
to associate to the agreed EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Euratom
R&T and Copernicus) at the earliest opportunity.
- The agreement reached under the TCA was clear that UK
association would take place at the earliest opportunity when
that legislation was finalised. This timeline was vital to the
agreement. It was also clear that UK researchers and businesses
would be able to participate from the beginning of the respective
EU Programmes. The EU’s own publications demonstrate this
intention.
- Notice of the launch of formal consultations has been
delivered in the form of a letter from the UK’s Ambassador to the
EU, Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, to the European Commission.
