Rishi Sunak appears set to announce that the UK will rejoin the European Union’s £85bn Horizon science research programme.
Sources familiar with the negotiations between the two sides said on Wednesday that the Prime Minister has given the go-ahead for a deal to be finalised.
The level of compensation for the UK being frozen out of the scheme during a tit-for-tat retaliation in a post-Brexit row over Northern Ireland is still thought to be an issue.
A deal could be announced within days, as first reported by Bloomberg.
One source told the PA news agency that Sunak had signalled his approval of the deal but that the level of compensation for the two missed years of collaboration could still be an issue.
A conversation with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen would be expected before the announcement.
At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sunak told MPs his “priority and preference” was to associate with Horizon but “on terms that are right for both the British taxpayer and for British science and research”.
In a hint at a possible breakthrough, he said the government had been “extensively involved in discussions” with the EU and “I hope to be able to conclude those successfully”.
Whitehall sources said in July that a draft deal was with the Prime Minister, prompting scientists to cautiously celebrate the development.
But Downing Street said a UK-based alternative known as Pioneer remained on the table as Sunak continued to be concerned about “value for money”.
Horizon is a collaboration involving Europe’s leading research institutes and technology companies.
EU member states contribute funds, which are then allocated to individuals or organisations on merit.
Post-Brexit Britain continued to participate under the trade deal brokered with Brussels but was locked out during the bitter row over trading rules for Northern Ireland in 2020.
Press Association – Sam Blewett and David Hughes
