UK-EU Horizon deal was ‘delayed by political choreography’

UK Treasury and European Commission sources say agreement could have been locked down sooner

The deal allowing the UK to access the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme could have been reached sooner but was delayed by “political choreography”, Research Professional News can reveal.

Sources in the UK Treasury, which was leading on talks with the European Commission, said the bones of the deal were locked down quite early but that the timing was negotiated at the political level. A Commission source told RPN that it was ready to announce a deal before the summer break.