Much-anticipated meeting in Vilnius does not yield agreement on UK association, as negotiations continue
The reported draft deal on the UK rejoining EU R&D programmes has not been approved by the leaders of two sides at the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Research Professional News understands.
A deal on the UK finally rejoining some key EU R&D programmes—including the €95.5 billion (£85bn) Horizon Europe programme—sounded tantalisingly close last week, with reports suggesting it could be approved as early as 11-12 July, when UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen were due to meet in Vilnius.
That meeting has now taken place, but with no deal agreed. UK government sources maintain that discussions on rejoining EU programmes are continuing.
The UK’s official position is still that it is the government’s preference to associate with Horizon Europe, but that any deal must provide value for money for taxpayers and be in the best interests of UK science and research.
Sunak has been meeting with a number of leaders at the Nato summit.
He met von der Leyen briefly at the margins of the summit today, Research Professional News understands, with discussions focusing on the situation in Ukraine and the progress of its counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion. The government said it would not be issuing a detailed readout of the meeting.
Von der Leyen said on Twitter: “We discussed the continued commitment and support by the international community to Ukraine.
“More specifically, the new security arrangements in the context of the G7. We also touched upon broader geopolitical challenges, including China, and bilateral issues.”
Before that, the two leaders last spoke on 19 June. The government said at the time that Sunak “noted opportunities for the UK and EU to further develop our joint work on science and technology, including to meet our shared green ambitions”.
It added: “He hoped to see progress in discussions on the UK’s possible participation in the Horizon Europe programme, and for the UK and EU to reach a pragmatic agreement on electric-vehicle battery manufacturing to support carmakers across the continent.”
Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of Prospect Union, which represents scientists, told Research Professional News: “The failure to get agreement on rejoining Horizon is a significant missed opportunity for UK science and innovation.
“Being outside of the Horizon programme has been hugely damaging to UK science. Not just for our world-class universities, but also for R&D-intensive public sector agencies and private sector firms who have a critical role to play in making the UK the science and tech superpower the government say it aspires to.
“Collaboration across borders is vital to outstanding research, and to attracting and retaining global talent.”