Britain is rejoining the European Union (EU)’s flagship Horizon scientific research program, with the European Commission confirming that the nation will once again be forced to make annual £2.6 billion ($2.78bn) financial contributions to the EU budget.
The deal was struck between “Conservative” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak alongside the EU’s Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and permits UK scientists to receive research grants from the EU.
“We have worked with our EU partners to make sure that this is the right deal for the UK, unlocking unparalleled research opportunities, and also the right deal for British taxpayers,” said Sunak in a statement announcing the deal.
The UK will also join the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation program, which forms a key part of the block’s space project. The UK will also contribute another £132 million ($164 million) for its association with Copernicus. The deal must, however, be approved by all other 27 EU member states before it can be adopted.
The deal has already been championed by the virulently anti-Brexit von der Leyen, who argued the deal is a reset moment in relations between both parties: “The EU and UK are key strategic partners and allies, and today’s agreement proves that point.”
Rishi Sunak’s government has similarly failed to seize the opportunity provided by Brexit over immigration, with his government allowing over 1.1 million people to legally enter the country over the past year.
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