15 Nov 2023
Council gives green light to UK participation in Horizon Europe
On 15 November 2023, the Council of the European Union gave its green light to UK participation in the EU’s Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes, approving the agreement in principle reached between the Commission and the UK government on 7 September 2023.
According to the agreement in principle, as of 1 January 2024, researchers and organisations in the UK will be able to participate in Horizon Europe on equal terms with their counterparts in the EU Member States. The UK will also participate in the EU's earth observation programme Copernicus and have access to the EU’s space surveillance and tracking services.
The UK’s participation will be subject to all the safeguards of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, including the payment of a participation fee into the EU budget. The Council and the Commission also made a joint statement on today’s Council decision.
This Council decision will enable the EU to formalise the agreement in principle reached with the UK by adopting a decision within the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Participation in Union programmes. The Committee, set up under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, is expected to adopt the decision before the end of the year.
For more information:
Council decision on EU position in the Specialised Committee on Participation in Union programmes