Liz Truss launches legal clash with EU over UK access to science programmes

Liz Truss today launched a legal clash with the EU over UK access to science programmes.

The UK negotiated access to a range of EU science and innovation programmes as part of Brexit negotiations 18 months ago.

But now the Foreign Office says EU chiefs have refused to finalise UK access – and has entered a formal process in a bid to end “persistent delays.”

The Foreign Secretary said the bloc was in “clear breach of our agreement” over the research programmes, including Horizon Europe – the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation – and climate change observation body Copernicus.

Other affected schemes include Euratom – the nuclear research programme – and Space Surveillance and Tracking programmes.

And last night the Government wrote to the European Commission to launch dispute resolution proceedings.

Ms Truss said: “The EU is in clear breach of our agreement, repeatedly seeking to politicise vital scientific cooperation by refusing to finalise access to these important programmes.

“We cannot allow this to continue. That is why the UK has now launched formal consultations and will do everything necessary to protect the scientific community.”

Earlier this month, a cross-party group of peers on the House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee concluded in a report that the Government’s international science policy “has been somewhat incoherent”.

It warned: “Association with Horizon Europe has not been secured, which risks harming the UK’s reputation further and jeopardising the quality of its science base.”

European Commission spokesman Daniel Ferrie said: “The commission takes note of the UK’s request for consultation and will follow up on this in line with the applicable rules, as set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.”