A joint report published this month by EU and UK negotiators, confirms that UK partners will be able to participate in the EU programmes financed by the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020, until the closure of the programming period, in 2020.

This is a significant development, as it was previously thought that UK partners would be restricted from applying for European research funding after the March 2019 Brexit date.

The MFF includes EU programmes Interreg and Horizon 2020, whose projects involve partners from across the UK and beyond.

This announcement also means that British projects and projects involving UK partners will be able to continue beyond 2020, for the full duration of the project, as the UK will continue to participate in the Union programmes financed by the MFF 2014-2020, until their closure.

Participating UK partners no longer need to worry about their involvement in EU projects as they will be funded accordingly, until their project comes to an end. Likewise, European partners can be put at ease, now knowing they are no longer at risk of losing valuable UK project partners.

Entities located in the UK will be entitled to participate in programmes financed by the MFF. Participation in Union programmes will require the UK and UK beneficiaries to respect all relevant Union legal provisions, including co-financing.