The European Union (EU) will request the UK to streamline visa procedures and reduce costs for scientists rejoining the Horizon Europe research program. Iliana Ivanova, the EU research commissioner, will discuss these issues with British counterparts during her visit to London for the UK’s Horizon re-entry. She emphasized difficulties faced by European researchers due to visa problems and higher costs, indicating the importance of addressing these challenges for the full benefits of Horizon Europe.
The tensions over visas could hinder the UK’s efforts to regain its significant role in the Horizon program. The UK left in 2020 but rejoined last year, allowing British institutions to lead consortiums. However, concerns persist about the high costs and complexities of the UK visa system, particularly affecting the recruitment of top international talent, which may impact the success of the Horizon program. The EU aims to work with the UK to eliminate obstacles and make Horizon a successful collaboration.
EU scientist visas, UK Horizon program, Research collaboration, Visa simplification, Horizon Europe integration