Research deal with UK won’t happen soon, says Moedas

A post-Brexit agreement on scientific collaboration between the UK and the EU will have to wait until other, more pressing areas are sorted, the research commissioner has said.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Science Business network in Brussels on 6 September, Carlos Modeas said that the specifics of a cooperation agreement are a lower priority than citizens’ rights, the UK’s financial settlement to the EU, and how to keep peace and maintain trade in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“The time for finding that solution for research and innovation is not yet there, because there’s a lot of other subjects that have to be solved before. We have to keep our heads really cool, keep the calm, and get emotions out, because we know that we need each other,” he said.