Horizon Europe: UK Participation

Lord Cunningham of Felling Excerpts
Tuesday 31st January 2023

(1 year, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Callanan Portrait Lord Callanan (Con)
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I agree with the noble Lord. There is a limit to how long this period of limbo can go on. We have provided guarantees to researchers, and we are funding them in the meantime. The time is approaching when we will need to make a final decision on this.

Lord Cunningham of Felling Portrait Lord Cunningham of Felling (Lab)
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My Lords, since the Minister has considerable experience of the European Union and its institutions, why does he think that the European Union is behaving in this remarkably unkind way? Is there some explanation or is it just a question of the EU using this issue to try to succeed in some other way in the negotiations?

Lord Callanan Portrait Lord Callanan (Con)
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I think the Commission has been very clear in intimating that the issue is linked to the Northern Ireland protocol, but, as I have said, this is a separate issue. They are separate legal agreements, and we stand ready to continue the discussions about association, which is part of an agreement we already have with the EU.