UK Ready To Snub Key EU Science Research Scheme If Brexit Row Not Resolved
The UK government is reportedly ready to snub a key EU science research scheme, if the controversial Brexit row is not solved by December.
Reasons For Snubbing Scheme
Currently, the EU and UK are mulling over their futures, which has been a source of unrest in the country. According to government officials, the UK government is ready to withdraw from the scheme, unless an agreement is made. Reasons for the snub have been cited as:
- Brexit Negotiations:The current Brexit negotiations have not yielded any tangible results and both sides seem unwilling to budge. This has necessitated the UK’s decision to snub the scheme until an agreement has been made.
- Unequal Or No Access To Funds:Currently, the scheme is an EU funded project and any withdrawal by the UK would mean they would have unequal or no access to the funds.
- No Clear Message:The government has failed to send out an emphatic message about their stance and this has left many science research initiatives in uncertainty.
Reaction From Science Community
The science community has reacted in a hostile manner to the UK’s decision. Many researchers believe the UK’s decision will negatively impact their projects and cause them to miss out on vital funds. There has been an outpouring of emotion from various researchers, who believe the UK’s decision will hurt the advancement of science and research.
Overall, the UK government’s decision has been met with strong opposition from the science community and unless a Brexit resolution is found, the UK will snub the key EU science research scheme.
Today the news has been released that the UK is ready to snub key EU science research scheme if Brexit row is not resolved. With the official leave date of 31st October, the UK will be rejected from the European Union and will no longer contribute key research as part of the EU Horizon 2020 scheme.
Horizon 2020 is the European Union’s expansive research and innovation program. It is designed to help the research and innovation sector link up with industry and ensure that the EU remains competitive world-wide. The scheme is made up of €95 billion of public and private finance, and the UK has been a major contributor, providing 12.3% of the Horizon 2020 budget.
However, Brexit negotiations have been ongoing for some time, without any real resolution, and the UK’s stay in the program has now come to an end. This is concerning news for the science research and innovation sector in the UK, who rely on Horizon 2020 research grants to stay at the forefront of the research arena.
In the absence of any deal being reached, the UK will remain unable to access EU research programs. This could mean that some key scientific research and discoveries could be stalled, without the grant finance and cooperative environment the EU provides.
The UK Government has now stated that it is open to working with the EU on ‘associate participation’. This would enable the UK to remain a part of the Horizon 2020 scheme as a third country, while still holding sovereignty over post-Brexit negotiations.
In short, the UK wants to ensure that the research sector remains competitive and that progress continues to be made. If any resolution or associate deal can be reached with the EU soon, then the UK will remain a major contributor to the Horizon 2020 program. But without a deal, the UK is ready to snub the key EU science research scheme, and focus efforts on driving the UK at the forefront of science research.