UK launches legal action in row over EU’s £80bn science fund following access issues after Brexit
- UK was set to pay £15bn to be in £80bn EU Horizon Europe science programme
- Liz Truss accused EU of ‘breach’ of Brexit deal as they delay agreed membership
- Brussels also blocking UK access to earth observation programme Copernicus
Britain has launched legal action after accusing the EU of refusing to release funding for vital scientific research.
Under a post-Brexit trade agreement with the bloc, the UK was set to pay £15billion to take part in Horizon Europe, an £80billion innovation programme.
It is supposed to allow British researchers access to grants and collaborations with Europeans.
But the bloc has effectively diverted the UK’s grants to its own scientists by delaying Britain’s membership in a ‘clear breach’ of the Brexit deal, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss claimed.
The EU has effectively diverted UK grants to its own scientists by delaying Britain’s membership of Horizon Europe in a ‘clear breach’ of the Brexit deal, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pictured) has claimed
Brussels is also blocking UK access to Copernicus, the earth observation programme which provides data on climate change, and nuclear research programme Euratom. Pictured: Artist’s impression of the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite
Her department said that delaying membership will cause ‘serious damage to research and development’ in both the UK and European countries.
Brussels is also blocking UK access to Copernicus, the earth observation programme which provides data on climate change, and nuclear research programme Euratom.
Officials said that refusing to finalise access to the schemes was widely seen as an attempt to gain leverage in the bitter dispute over the post-Brexit trading arrangements in Ireland.
Last night, the Government said the UK’s ambassador to the EU, Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, had written to the European Commission in Brussels to launch formal dispute proceedings.
The European Commission has been contacted for comment.
Miss Truss, the frontrunner to become the prime minister, said: ‘The EU is in clear breach of our agreement, repeatedly seeking to politicise vital scientific cooperation by refusing to finalise access to these important programmes.
‘We cannot allow this to continue. That is why the UK has now launched formal consultations and will do everything necessary to protect the scientific community.’
Minister for Europe, Graham Stuart (pictured) said it was ‘disappointing’ the EU blocked access to Horizon Europe
Minister for Europe, Graham Stuart, said: ‘It is disappointing that the EU has not facilitated UK participation in the agreed scientific programmes, despite extensive UK engagement on the issue.
‘Now more than ever the UK and the EU should be working together to tackle our shared challenges from net zero to global health and energy security. We look forward to constructive engagement through the formal consultations.’
The Government said it has prepared an alternative set of programmes to support UK scientists and researchers, if membership to Horizon Europe is not formalised.
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