Consulta Europa is delighted to announce a momentous development in EU-UK relations. On September 7th, the European Commission and the United Kingdom reached a crucial political agreement concerning the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, and Copernicus, the EU’s renowned Earth observation initiative.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, emphasised, “The EU and UK are key strategic partners and allies, and today’s agreement proves that point. We will continue to be at the forefront of global science and research.”
This mutually agreed-upon solution, crafted after extensive negotiations, promises substantial benefits to both parties. It deepens collaboration in research, innovation, and space, uniting the research and space communities.
The agreement is fully in line with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The UK will make a financial contribution to the EU budget, subject to the safeguards outlined in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. On average, the UK is expected to contribute almost €2.6 billion annually to both Horizon Europe and the Copernicus component of the Space Programme.
Commencing January 1, 2024, researchers and organisations in the UK will have equal access to Horizon Europe funding, aligning them with EU Member States in tackling global challenges, including climate, energy, mobility, digitalization, industry, space, health, and more.
Association with Copernicus grants the UK strategic participation in a space programme renowned for its state-of-the-art Earth monitoring capabilities, crucial to advancing the European Green Deal and net-zero objectives. The UK will also gain access to services from the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking programme.
The next step for this historic agreement is approval by the Council before formal adoption by the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes.
This milestone builds on the foundation laid by the Windsor Framework Agreement earlier this year, signifying a new chapter in the EU-UK partnership grounded in mutual trust and complete cooperation.
For further information, please refer to the joint statement by the European Commission and the UK Government.