Information published on extension to Brexit process
23 Apr 2019
Updates following Article 50 extension
Liz Fay, EU Funding and Development Manager, has collated new information for staff following the extension to Article 50.
Extension to Article 50
The European Council has agreed to an extension to Article 50 until 31 October 2019, with a review of this process scheduled for June 2019. During this extension, the UK will remain a member state with full rights and obligations and ‘must act in a constructive and responsible manner throughout the extension in accordance with the duty of sincere cooperation’.
If the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified by both parties before this date, the UK’s withdrawal will take place on the first day of the following month. In the case that the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, full participation in Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and all other EU funded programmes will be guaranteed for the UK until the end of the implementation period in December 2020.
There still remains a risk of no-deal if the UK ‘obstructs future negations and does not act in a constructive and responsible manner as a member state’ or if the withdrawal agreement is not ratified and no further extension is agreed. A change in Prime Minister or government may also result in significant policy changes.
Implications for Horizon 2020
UK researchers will continue to be eligible to apply for and receive Horizon 2020 funding while the UK remains a member state. The extension means that all successful UK applicants for Horizon 2020 funding announced between now and 30 June or 31 October 2019 will be covered by the UK government underwrite, as well as those informed of a successful outcome after any future exit date. This includes European Research Council funding, such as the 47 UK-based researchers who have just been told they were successful in the European Research Council Advanced Grant call for 2018.
Implications for Erasmus+
With the current extension now until 31 October 2019, any project bids submitted under the 2019 Erasmus+ call will continue to be assessed by the UK National Agency and European Commission in the usual way and institutions will be notified of the results within the typical timeframe.
Although it is possible for the UK to be granted a further extension to Article 50 post-October, there remains a risk of a no-deal if a deal or extension is not agreed by this time. In this case, the European Commission Contingency Regulation will come into effect on 31 October 2019 guaranteeing that participants on mobilities (including under the 2019 call) will be able to complete their mobilities in full and uninterrupted.
We expect that the UK government underwrite guarantee (in line with its requirements on viability) will still apply to fund mobilities due to start after 31 October that are funded through successful bids ‘ratified’ by that date. However, we expect further confirmation of this from the Department for Education.
European Parliamentary Elections
The UK will also be legally required to participate in in the European Parliamentary elections if the Withdrawal Agreement has not been ratified by the 22 May 2019. In the scenario the UK chooses not to participate, withdrawal from the EU will take place on 1 June 2019 with no deal in place. If 2019 projects have not been assessed and ratified by the European Commission and the National Agency (Erasmus+) by this time, they will not be eligible for the UK government underwrite guarantee.
Upcoming developments
Call for evidence on future UK research funding schemes: We understand that a call for evidence to support Professor Sir Adrian Smith's work on future UK funding schemes for international collaboration, innovation and curiosity-driven, blue-skies research will be published in the coming weeks.
Further information
We will continue to update our EU website, and colleagues can also follow the EU Funding & Development Team on Twitter.
Universities UK also has a Brexit website which is regularly updated.