The United Kingdom has decided to rejoin the Horizon program, the European Union’s £85 billion scientific research initiative. This decision is being hailed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as a success for British taxpayers. Downing Street made the official announcement early this morning, revealing that the Prime Minister, in negotiations for a “bespoke” arrangement, had secured a discounted membership fee. The government also claimed that Sunak had achieved improved financial terms that would protect UK taxpayers.
This agreement means that the UK will become an associate member of Horizon Europe and Copernicus, the European Earth Observation program. Initially, the UK had agreed to pay a £15 billion membership fee to join Horizon under the post-Brexit trade deal. However, tensions surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol led to the European Commission putting a hold on finalizing the terms.
After several months of negotiations and disputes, a deal has finally been reached. Chancellor Sunak expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “With our wealth of expertise and experience, we have secured a deal that allows UK scientists to confidently participate in the world’s largest research collaboration program, Horizon Europe. We have collaborated with our EU partners to ensure that this is the right deal for the UK, unlocking unmatched research opportunities while also protecting the interests of British taxpayers.”
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