布鲁盖尔-The-science-of-Brexit_44页_347kb

Summary of A post-Brexit agreement for research and innovation

Core Content

This report presents the findings of a simulated negotiation process conducted by the Wellcome Trust and Bruegel to explore the potential terms of a post-Brexit research and innovation agreement between the UK and the EU. The goal was to identify a feasible framework for continued collaboration, particularly in the context of the EU's Horizon Europe programme, which is set to begin on 1 January 2021.

The simulation assumed that the UK had left the EU with a withdrawal agreement in place, and that the transition period had already commenced. This allowed the teams to focus on the specifics of the research and innovation relationship, rather than broader political issues. The exercise aimed to produce a realistic agreement text and highlight the challenges and opportunities in negotiating such a deal.

Main Points and Key Themes

1. UK Association to Horizon Europe

• The inclusion of the UK in Horizon Europe is seen as a core element of a post-Brexit research and innovation agreement.
• Both the UK and EU teams agreed that full participation in all aspects of Horizon Europe would be the default option, ensuring continuity and cooperation at current levels.
• This would allow the UK to remain part of the European Research Area (ERA), which is a key hub for world-class research.

2. Financial Contribution

• The UK would need to make a financial contribution to Horizon Europe, reflecting its ability to "pay its way".
• A "correction mechanism" was proposed to address any significant imbalance between contributions and benefits, ensuring fair value for money.
• This mechanism would help reassure the UK of its financial commitment and the EU of its contribution to the programme.

3. Governance and Influence

• The UK would accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Auditors.
• The EU team sought to limit the UK's formal influence, but a compromise was reached that allowed the UK to have a degree of soft influence through participation.
• The agreement included language that would allow the UK to contribute to the shaping of Horizon Europe without formal voting rights.

4. Dispute Settlement

• A dispute resolution mechanism was included in the agreement, reflecting the need for a structured process to address conflicts between the UK and EU in research-related matters.

5. Researcher Mobility

• The teams prioritised reciprocal and favourable arrangements for the movement of researchers and their families.
• The agreement included wording that would facilitate this mobility, though specific systems were not detailed due to time and complexity constraints.

6. Regulation and Common Standards

• The UK team aimed to preserve its sovereignty, while the EU team wanted to ensure high standards post-Brexit.
• A compromise was reached on adopting regulatory approaches that are "compatible to the extent possible", similar to the October 2019 Political Declaration.

7. Free Flow of Data

• Data sharing for research purposes was identified as a critical component of the agreement.
• A backstop mechanism was proposed to ensure data can flow freely, but the teams hoped that this could be replaced by a broader EU decision on the adequacy of UK data protection arrangements.

8. Erasmus, Euratom, and Research Infrastructure

• The agreement included provisions for the UK's participation in the Erasmus Programme and access to Euratom.
• Access to research infrastructure was acknowledged as an important issue, though it was not explored in detail due to time constraints.

9. Implementation Timeline

• The agreement requires time to implement, especially for "enhanced" provisions.
• There is a risk that the UK may miss the start of Horizon Europe if negotiations are delayed, which could disrupt research and innovation activities.

10. Areas Not Covered

• Several issues, such as participation in Erasmus and Euratom, and access to non-Framework Programme research infrastructures, were not discussed in detail.
• The agreement focused on academic research, though innovation-related aspects may require additional attention.

Recommendations

• A standalone research and innovation agreement is recommended to ensure the UK can participate in Horizon Europe from the start.
• The process must begin immediately to avoid delays and ensure that the agreement is in place before the programme launches.
• A cooperative environment is essential to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement, and a no-deal Brexit would significantly complicate negotiations.
• The political will for a research and innovation agreement exists, but actual negotiations may face more political and technical challenges than the simulation suggested.

Conclusion

The simulated negotiation demonstrated that a post-Brexit research and innovation agreement is possible, but it requires careful attention to key themes such as financial contributions, governance, researcher mobility, and data sharing. The exercise highlighted the importance of starting the negotiation process early and maintaining a cooperative tone to ensure that the UK and EU can continue to benefit from their joint research and innovation efforts.