The scientific community has repeatedly called for the PM to give his support for rejoining the scheme.. “It is now just about squaring the circle from the technical point of view.”
Another source said that Downing Street wanted to avoid Labour exploiting the issue ahead of the general election. Negotiations on the UK rejoining Horizon as an associate member began in February following the signing of theA Whitehall source toldthat the main outstanding disagreement related to the level of compensation due to the UK for being locked out of Horizon for the past two years.
Brussels had admitted it was in breach of a trade and co-operation agreement, the source added, but a deal on the level of discount the UK should be given on its contribution had not yet been reached. A Government spokesman told the paper: “Talks with the EU are ongoing and no deal has been agreed or finalised. Whilst our preference is to associate with Horizon, any deal must be value for money for taxpayers and in the best interests of UK science and research.”