The TCA set out general rules and conditions for UK participation in EU programmes, including a formula for calculating UK financial contributions. The programmes that the UK would be participating in would be set out in a separate protocol. A draft protocol, published alongside the TCA but not yet finalised by the UK and EU, indicated the UK would be involved in the following programmes:
• Copernicus –one of the EU space programmes, covering earth observation through satellite and land, sea and air surveillance systems (specifically the programme established for 2021-2027).
• Horizon Europe – the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation for 2021-2027, and successor to Horizon 2020. This is the largest of the programmes, with a budget of €95.5 billion.
• The research and training programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), complementing Horizon Europe, from 2021 to 2025.
• The European component of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) and the Development of Fusion Energy.
Participation in EU programmes has, however, yet to be signed off by the EU. A joint UK-EU declaration published alongside the TCA in December 2020 explained that the draft protocol could not be adopted then, as the EU needed to first adopt its long-term budget for 2021-2027 and the legislation for the various programmes that the UK would be participating in. The declaration stated that the UK and EU had agreed the protocols in principle and that these would be submitted to the joint UK-EU Specialised Committee on Participation in EU Programmes for adoption.
By early May 2021, the EU’s budget and its legislation for the programmes had been adopted. However, the EU did not proceed with sign-off of UK participation. In September 2021, the European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Mariya Gabriel, indicated that there was a link between adoption of the protocols on UK participation in EU programmes and resolution of the differences between the UK and EU over the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Specialised Committee met for the first time in December 2021, where the EU confirmed its view that the completion of procedures for formalising UK participation in EU programmes were not “in the current political setting [...] opportune” because of “serious difficulties” in implementing the WA.
The differences between the UK and the EU over implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol have subsequently remained unresolved, and the EU has continued to reject requests by the UK to complete the formalities to enable UK participation in programmes.
In August 2022, the UK Government requested formal consultations with the EU on the matter, as the first stage in the dispute settlement mechanism in the TCA. The Government said that the EU was in breach of the TCA, given that the agreement states the UK shall participate in EU programmes.
Comments
Failure to comply with the requirements of the NI Protocol led to tit for tat actions, both sides would claim that the other was to blame.
Both sides share responsibility.
But, anyway, here's a document on who is involved: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf