13 Jul 2023
EUA and Universities UK renew call for rapid agreement on UK participation in EU programmes
The European University Association (EUA) and Universities UK have issued a statement renewing their united call on political leaders to reach a rapid agreement on UK participation in EU research programmes, stating that the ongoing delay is damaging pan-European research collaboration. The university associations point out that the Windsor Framework, which paved the way for progress in this area, was announced nearly five months ago, and researchers have been waiting for more than two years since the start of the Horizon Europe programme for a breakthrough.
It is encouraging that talks are continuing in a constructive vein and that both parties assert that their overwhelming preference is to confirm the UK's full association. Recent reports in the media have given rise to optimism that a deal may be close to hand. EUA and Universities UK emphasise that UK and EU researchers need clarity as soon as possible so they can move forward with plans to collaborate on research which broadens our common understanding of the world and addresses the great challenges of our time, such as the climate emergency, healthy ageing, and emerging technologies, with confidence.