The EU has blocked scientists in the UK from joining its €95bn Horizon Europe research programme due ongoing disputes about Northern Ireland after Brexit.

According to Politico, an official letter was sent to a UK politician which said that Brussels won’t let the UK be part of Horizon Europe while the issues surrounding post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland drag on.

EU ambassador to the UK João Vale de Almeida said it is “very regrettable” that British scientists would become “collateral damage” over the ongoing trade and border disputes, the Financial Times reported.

The issue stems from the UK’s recent move to bring in legislation that would let it disapply elements of the protocol, which is part of the UK’s withdrawal agreement that protects the Good Friday Agreement.

On 17 May, VP of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič said that the EU would respond “with all measures at its disposal” if the UK goes ahead with a bill to disapply elements of the protocol.

Horizon Europe launched in Ireland in March 2021 and will run until 2027, directly following the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. With a budget of €95.5bn, the overarching goals of the programme are to strengthen science and technology in the EU, boost the region’s capacity and competitiveness in innovation, and deliver research projects that serve the EU’s priorities.

There have been ongoing delays in formalising an agreement to enable UK scientists, researchers and businesses to access funding under the EU programme on equivalent terms as organisations in EU countries.

Concerns among scientists

The delays have caused concerns among research groups, who have been pushing for open collaboration between UK and EU scientists. In a letter seen by the Financial Times the Russell Group, which represents 24 UK universities, urged British prime minister Boris Johnson to break the deadlock.

Russell Group said on Twitter that the UK’s association with Horizon Europe would be a win for both sides  “at a time when cooperation across Europe is more vital than ever”.

As @Alicegast says, UK association to #HorizonEurope needs to be finalised soon. Association would be a win-win for the UK and our international collaborators at a time when cooperation across Europe is more vital than ever. https://t.co/tDYtUrFiUB

— Russell Group (@RussellGroup) May 19, 2022

The stand-off between the UK and the EU has been causing significant issues for UK scientists. According to the Guardian, Cambridge University astrophysicist Nicholas Walton had to leave his coordinating role in an upcoming European Space Agency project, as he was told UK scientists cannot hold leadership roles until the country’s Horizon Europe membership is ratified.

There are other UK scientists facing the dilemma to move to the EU or hand over leadership to an EU institution, the Guardian reports.

The European Commission faced pressure in November when a joint statement was issued by more than 1,000 universities, 56 academies of science and 33 rectors’ associations, urging it to finalise the UK’s association to Horizon Europe or risk “endangering current and future plans for collaboration”.

In December, the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) urged Ireland’s Government to help finalise the UK’s involvement with Horizon Europe, as it said the ongoing delays are putting research partnerships in jeopardy.

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