The UK had plans to contribute 15 billion to three EU science projects, including Copernicus, Horizon Europe and Euratom. The access of Britain to these projects has been suspended due to disputes over fishing licenses and the Northern Ireland Protocol. The triggering of Article 16 is very much on the table for the UK as the disputes intensify. European Vice President Maros Sefcovic has said this would have serious consequences. This move could lead to Britain being exempt from these EU space projects. There is still hope that the disputes can be resolved, even though serious threats are in play.
BBC Science Correspondent Jonathan Amos wrote on Twitter: The UK participation in the Copernicus EU Earth observation programme is still alive, if only on life support. Reminder: The UK will fall out of Copernicus if Brussels and London don't agree on the terms of association. Britain risks not being involved, but this could be detrimental to the whole project. Mr Amos believes that the EU needs the UK's €750 million 640 million contribution to keep the project alive. The Commission included: "To be clear, everyone wants the UK to stay in Copernicus. The programme needs the UK's $750 million to progress. It would be a monumental lose-lose if this all fell apart. The talks are now being extended into 2022 due to neither side willing to compromise on key issues, and the two sides have reached a stalemate in negotiations. READ MORE: Covid horror as anOTHER new variant discovered in France