Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
From 1 January 2024, the UK will become a member country of Horizon Europe. Its researchers will be able to participate in the EU Research and Innovation Program on the same conditions as researchers from other associated countries and will have access to Horizon Europe funding.
Yesterday, Monday, the last step towards this was completed - the EU-UK Specialized Committee on Participation in Union Programs adopted the political agreement on the UK's accession to the "Horizon Europe" and to the Copernicus component of the space programme.
The UK joining Horizon Europe will deepen the EU’s relationship with the UK in research and innovation, bringing the research communities together to tackle global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation and health.
The Association Protocol adopted by the Commission is an integral part of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The United Kingdom will contribute about 2.43 billion euros annually on average to the European Union budget for its participation in the Horizon Europe project, and about 154 million euros for its participation in the Copernicus project.
Horizon Europe is the EU's main funding program for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion for the period 2021-2027. It addresses climate change, helps achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the competitiveness and growth of the European Union. The program facilitates cooperation and enhances the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while addressing global challenges.
Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union's space programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the benefit of all European citizens. It provides information services derived from satellite Earth observation and in situ (non-satellite) data and contributes fundamentally to reaching the European Green Deal and net zero goals.