It comes as the European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and the Brexit Minister meet today to continue their negotiations. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University seems to be hopeful about the meeting. They wrote on Twitter: Both the UK and the Commission fully expect that the UK will associate to Horizon Europe in line with the Protocol, so it is looking positive for the UK in terms of its involvement in the seven-year programme. Horizon Europe is the EU's biggest research and innovation project. The UK was banned due to the ongoing Brexit disputes, with EU ministers insisting that the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol be resolved first. This comes after the fears that the UK could have been permanently excluded from the project if negotiations turn sour and Article 16 is triggered. Lord Frost had said that triggering Article 16 was still on the table and Mr Sefcovic warned that it would have serious consequences, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that the UK would prefer to reach a mutual agreement with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The two issues have been tipped to be resolved in the coming weeks. The UK is trying to join Horizon Europe, but FASS pointed out that the UK is just one of 11 countries still waiting for formal association. They said that only Iceland, Norway, Ukraine, Turkey and Armenia have been formally associated with the programme. Some experts think that the UK is still in a strong position as it continues its negations in the hope of joining the project. Jan Palmowski, from the University of Warwick, wrote: Europe's research and innovation sector has been vocal in calling for the EU to fulfill its treaty obligations and activate UK association. Is it complicit in making the UK cherry-pick, opting for collaboration when it suits and non-compliance at other times? READ MORE: Archaeology breakthrough as rare roman mosaic found in UK field
Some experts think that the UK is still in a strong position as it continues its negations in the hope of joining the project. Jan Palmowski, from the University of Warwick, wrote: Europe's research and innovation sector has been vocal in calling for the EU to fulfill its treaty obligations and activate UK association. But is it complicit in allowing the UK to cherrypick, opting for collaboration when it suits and non-compliance at other times?