On Thursday 7 September, the European Commission confirmed that it had reached a political agreement with the United Kingdom, in line with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), on the UK’s participation in the European Horizon Europe research and innovation framework programme and the Copernicus Earth observation programme from 1 January 2024. However, the United Kingdom is not involved in Euratom.
Horizon Europe
This agreement will allow researchers affiliated to a research institution located in the UK to participate fully in Horizon Europe programmes, with the exception of the European Innovation Council Fund part of the EIC Accelerator (EIC Fund), in which the UK had decided not to participate.
It should be noted that, until now, these scientists have benefited from a transitional provision that has enabled them to apply. They were able to be evaluated under Horizon Europe calls and consortia, but had to find alternative sources of funding if they chose to remain in the UK.
As with other third countries, any restrictions on the UK’s participation in certain strategic activities deemed critical for the EU under Article 22(5) of the ‘Horizon Europe’ Regulation EU/2021/695 will be examined on a case-by-case basis as part of the strategic plans.
Copernicus
The UK will also participate in Copernicus, the EU’s Earth observation programme. It will be able to contribute to the programme and access its services.
This includes thematic services for monitoring land, the marine environment and the atmosphere, as well as monitoring climate change. The Copernicus products and services provided will be extended to cover the UK and London will be able to access the Copernicus emergency management service.
British companies and research institutes will be able to bid for contracts under Copernicus. They will follow the same rules as companies from EU Member States, except where the ‘Copernicus’ Regulation restricts participation in sensitive contracts for security reasons (Article 24 EU/377/2014).
The UK will also have access to the services of EU Space Surveillance and Tracking, a component of the EU Space Programme.
Budget contributions
According to the Commission, there have been no rebates or discounts, but rather an implementation of what had been agreed under the TCA.
The UK’s contribution is expected to be €2.6 billion per year for both programmes: around €2.43 billion for Horizon Europe and around €154 million for the Copernicus component of the European Space Programme. The Commission will send the United Kingdom a request for payment twice a year.
The UK is exempt from contributing for the years 2021 and 2022, during which the UK did not participate in the programmes.
However, the political agreement includes a correction mechanism to ensure a balance between subsidies and contributions to Horizon Europe.
On the one hand, if the UK receives more subsidies than its contribution, its contribution will be adjusted if it reaches a threshold of 8% over two successive years.
On the other hand, if the UK receives less in subsidies than its contribution, other correction mechanisms are provided for. Above all, it will be a question of trying to improve the UK’s level of participation. In the event of payments in excess of 12%, the United Kingdom may refer the matter to the specialised joint committee on participation in European programmes to examine the measures to be implemented.
In addition, a temporary mechanism will intervene automatically if the imbalance exceeds 16% until the end of the implementation of Horizon Europe in 2027.
The political agreement must be approved by the Member States and formally adopted by the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Participation in European Programmes.
The Commissioner-designate for Research, Iliana Ivanova, stressed that, as she had told MEPs at her hearing (see EUROPE 13243/1, 13243/2), the EU needed to cooperate with like-minded countries and that this announcement was a step in the right direction. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Émilie Vanderhulst)