Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle on Zahrani - Tyre Highway.
Israeli media: Israeli Prime Minister's Office: The security cabinet has approved Netanyahu's proposal on Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone bombed a car in the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: An Israeli raid targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Qatrani, Jezzine District
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a raid targeting the vicinity of the Burguz area
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the al-Mahmoudiyah area

UK rejoining EU Horizon program after years of ‘untold damage’

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 9 Sep 2023 18:31
4 Min Read

Although rejoining Horizon was met with pleasure and relief by many prominent scientists, some are warning that much damage has already been done to Britain's science sector.

  • x
  • UK rejoining EU Horizon science program after years away
    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shake hands after a press conference at Windsor Guildhall, England, on February 27, 2023. (AP)

Britain has recently rejoined the EU's Horizon research program, something that experts have warned should not be immediately celebrated.

The final revelation last week that ministers had agreed to rejoin Horizon was met with pleasure and relief by many prominent scientists, after years of Brexit.

A July YouGov poll indicated that 63% of Britons believed Brexit to be more of a failure than a success and 51% expressed they would like to rejoin the EU.

A further 70% expressed that the UK government was handling Brexit badly. 

Read more: Sunak's office labels UK as EU country by mistake on social media

The UK government has been negotiating to rejoin Horizon since 2020 after its membership was halted due to a lengthy disagreement over Northern Ireland's trading regulations.

However, several scientists have now cautioned that the inability to access Horizon for so long has caused irrevocable damage to UK science. This was a moment when Britain might have played pivotal roles in significant programs on climate change, artificial intelligence, and new treatments.

According to Professor Bart De Strooper, a group leader of the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, there is "little reason" to celebrate, since “for the past few years we have faced complete uncertainty about what is happening in key research areas. Britain used to dominate the Horizon program, and it will take a long time to get back to such a position.”

Related News

'Israel' threatens to end UK security ties if Palestine recognized

Thousands of company directors leave UK after Labour’s tax reforms: FT

Professor Sir John Hardy, a neurogeneticist at the same institute agreed with the stance, explaining to The Observer that the country's absence in the last 3 years has "had a number of detrimental effects," making the UK a "less attractive place to do science."

“We have not been part of the great science that Horizon funds and we have lost the trust of European colleagues. Will we leave Horizon again in the future, they might ask. Many scientists have simply left the UK and, post-Brexit, moving between the UK and labs in the EU has become a slow, costly, bureaucratic nightmare. All other things being equal, why would people want to do that?”

Professor Matthew Freeman, head of the Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University, stated that although he did not know "what took so long," the news is positive, as it will allow the UK to able to recruit notable scientists internationally to come to Britain.

Another Professor, Martin Rees, emeritus professor of cosmology and astrophysics at Cambridge University, expressed that all have been "frustrated" by the delay in reaching the agreement.

In July, a faltering economy had the UK  join a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc as the former EU member looks to expand its business relations beyond its European borders.

London has been pushing a "Global Britain" strategy since formally severing nearly 50 years of ties with its nearest neighbors in the European Union three years ago. 

The deal was concluded after two years of talks as the UK pushes for its "Global Britain" strategy.

What is the Horizon programme?

Horizon Europe is the world's biggest civil research and innovation programme, as defined by the European Commission. Its budget from the EU alone stands at €95.5 billion, in addition to the contributions of associated countries. It supports EU member states and associated countries in unlocking their national research and innovation potential by funding frontier research projects, fellowships, breakthrough innovation, and the mobility of researchers.

Horizon Europe aims to tackle some of today's biggest global challenges, such as health crises or the fight against climate change, as it reinforces technological and industrial capacities across the EU.

  • Brexit
  • horizon europe
  • European Union
  • Europe
  • Britain
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025
Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, centre, leads a Cabinet meeting which is supposed to discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, August 7, 2025 (Lebanese Presidency press office)
Politics

Hezbollah, Amal ministers walk out of cabinet over US disarmament plot

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid, line up as they wait to enter Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Politics

Only 188 of 800 promised aid trucks entered Gaza: Euractiv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India listens to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer as they meet for bilateral talks at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump doubles tariffs on India over Russian oil despite partnership

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi during a speech in Sanaa, Yemen, August 7, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)\
Politics

Al-Houthi slams Gaza blockade, warns against disarmament, aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS