Sunak Allows Return to "Horizon Europe" Program

Bloomberg reported today, Wednesday, that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has authorized his government officials to finalize an agreement that would allow the UK to rejoin the European Union's Horizon Europe research program. Under a trade agreement signed at the end of 2020, the UK negotiated to join a range of scientific and innovative programs, including the Horizon program, which is worth €95.5 billion (approximately $97 billion) and provides grants and research projects. However, the UK was barred from joining the program due to a dispute over the implementation of its Brexit agreement. London and Brussels settled their trade-related dispute concerning Northern Ireland in February, and since then, the UK has been negotiating about returning to the Horizon program. The report cited unnamed sources suggesting that an agreement could be announced soon, possibly this week, as only a few details remain to be finalized. The British Science Ministry could not be reached for comment, and Sunak's office declined to comment on the speculation.