The United Kingdom will again participate in the European scientific program Horizonfrom which he had stood aside after Brexit, Downing Street and the European Commission announced today.

“THE European Commission and United Kingdom today reached a political agreement on the UK’s participation in the EU’s research and innovation program Horizon Europe and in the Copernicus’ Earth observation programme, the EU said in a statement Commission.

“The EU and the UK are important partners and strategic allies and today’s agreement proves that,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “We will continue to be at the forefront of global science and global research,” he added.

The UK’s participation in Horizon had been negotiated in 2020, but London had denounced persistent delays, which it blamed on long-standing disagreements over trade provisions with Northern Ireland.

THE British government announced for its part that it has concluded an agreement with the EU, under which European researchers can from today apply to participate in research projects under the scheme, “with the certainty that the UK will participate as a fully associated member” . The UK will also be linked to the Copernicus Earth observation programme, according to Downing Street.

Highlighting the wealth of “experience and expertise” that scientists have to offer on the world stage, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underlined for his part that this deal “unlocks unparalleled research prospects” and represents “the right deal for the British taxpayer » because London will not pay for the research programs that the UK is excluded from from 2021.

According to the Commission, the United Kingdom will contribute up to approx 2.6 billion euros per year on average for its participation in the Horizon program and the Copernicus aspect of the space programme.