Hey Horizon Europe It is the main program for European Union To fund scientific research and development in the cluster on several fronts United kingdom It has access even after Brexit. Or rather, it was.
In August 2022, the UK lodged an appeal against its exclusion from Horizon, strengthening today, Monday (14); This act was due to the British government putting a review of trade agreements relating to Northern Ireland on the agenda, and as a result the research project ended up being politicized.
A UK proposal to review trade rules in Northern Ireland prevents the country from participating in the Horizon program (Credit: TheDigitalArtist/Pixabay)
The UK's exit rules allowed collaboration between the two in scientific research and development, which extended to the Horizon Europe project. The research is expected to cover from 2021 to 2027, with a budget of 95 billion euros. It was suggested To finance projects on several fronts, such as the Copernicus climate monitoring satellite system, the European Atomic Energy Organization, developments in the field of health, public security, the fight against hunger, and others.
The original agreement with the UK allowed the country to participate in and fund Horizon Europe, as well as other EU countries, but the European Parliament prevented the British from participating in it, while disagreements with the Northern Ireland Protocol did not. Not resolved.
The Protocol is a trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union that allows Northern Ireland, a British territory, to continue to enjoy the trade benefits enjoyed by the Republic of Ireland, as a member state of the European bloc. In theory, the treaty concluded in January 2021 avoids creating a barrier between the two Irelands, so that they are preserved as one country and without contradictions, in terms of products and services. It ratifies the Good Friday Agreement (or Belfast Agreement) of 1998, which prohibits the establishment of borders on the island.
What the Protocol does not stipulate is the flow of goods and services between Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain, as Article 16 has become a point of friction between the United Kingdom and the European Union. It included a 6-month grace period for the British, regarding the implementation of Britain’s exit from the European Union, which was extended “indefinitely” by the administration of then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
In the document, Article 16 could be triggered if the protocol causes “economic, social or environmental difficulties,” or “diversion of trade” between the parties, which the British say is the case. The claim is that the treaty imposed serious obligations on the rest of the country, and that it implemented rules so burdensome that the British Parliament proposed changing the rules unilaterally, as a way to “ensure the flow of goods and services” between the two countries. England and Northern Ireland.
Forbidden horizon
Experts claim that Article 16 was drawn up in such a vague way that either party could use any argument to implement it, and without much surprise, on the European side, the maneuver was received very poorly.
At the time, Johnson even advocated removing the European Court of Justice and the European Commission from their role as administrators of the agreement, in order to ensure the free movement of goods and services; For the EU, the maneuver was undertaken to ensure that Britons would continue to enjoy the benefits of the European bloc, even after Brexit.
The Copernicus Satellite System, of which the Sentinel-1B satellite was part (its mission was recently terminated), is one of the projects funded by Horizon Europe (Image source: ESA)
On the European side, there are talks to improve conditions for communication and trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, but for all practical purposes, the British government has signed the agreement and agreed to the terms set out, just for what Boris Johnson wants. To play Darth Vader. Not even Leo Varadkar, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, believes there is a better solution than what has been previously established.
Faced with the impasse, the European Commission has taken the decision to block British participation in the Horizon Europe project, as the country will not be able to fund, conduct research or collect data from projects set up and managed by the continent, until the issue is resolved with the EU. The Northern Ireland Protocol has been dissolved, with a vote on possible unilateral ratification until January 2023.
Leo Docherty, Under-Secretary of the European Parliament, acknowledges that British participation is beneficial to all, and that a split in Elder R&D will only harm all involved, and he himself has lamented the politicization of the horizon by its peers, an accusation that the UK has maintained in Last official representation, request to restore access:
“Putting politics before scientific collaboration limits human potential, and hurts everyone.”
Maru? “The European Union is not seeking a political victory.”
On the other hand, the United Kingdom is not willing to wait, and last week, I signed an agreement For scientific cooperation with Switzerland, which has also been excluded from the European horizon.
Most experts agree that if the UK were permanently banned from Horizon, the consequences would be bad for everyone, but at least for now, there is no indication that the dispute will be resolved amicably.
source: Next web
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.