Don’t worry about freedom of movement, says EUA

The British government’s desire to impose tougher restrictions on EU migration after Brexit won’t be a problem for UK participation in the Framework programme, the European University Association has said.

There is “no connection” between freedom of movement and the Framework programme, the EUA said in a Brexit question-and-answer sheet published on 18 September. Freedom of movement is a requirement only for full membership of the EU single market, it said—something the British government has said it would not seek.

Switzerland’s participation in Horizon 2020 is not a useful analogy for future UK participation in the Framework programme, the EUA said. Switzerland had its associate membership of Horizon 2020 revoked in 2014 after its government reneged on its commitment to freedom of movement, but “different rules apply for Switzerland” because of its unique arrangements with the EU, the paper said. The country has essentially full membership of the single market through a range of bilateral agreements, for which it makes a substantial financial contribution—a relationship the British are not seeking to emulate.