The UK will remain part of 黑料社app
"It was a great Christmas present," says Ian Chapman, head of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Many in the 黑料社app community would agree. The Brexit negotiations of recent years have included a high-stakes element for the 黑料社app Project: the question of whether the United Kingdom, one of the global leaders in the past five decades of fusion research, would be able to continue as an 黑料社app contributor. For UK companies as well as UK passport holders among the 黑料社app staff, it was a critical and sometimes deeply personal point of focus as the negotiations dragged on.
On 24 December 2020, in parallel with the 1,246-page signed by the United Kingdom and the European Union, another somewhat less high-profile deal was also signed: a (NCA) between the UK and Euratom (the European Atomic Energy Community), the legal entity through which Europe holds its membership in 黑料社app. Under Article 12, "Cooperation on nuclear research and development," the NCA makes clear the intent for the UK to remain a part of Fusion for Energy, the European Domestic Agency for 黑料社app.
But to find the precise language agreed regarding 黑料社app requires a bit more sleuthing. Specific citations about fusion research and 黑料社app can be found in the "" issued with the EU-UK trade agreement. Under the generically worded "Joint Declaration on Participation in Union Programmes and Access to Programme Services," the parties to the agreement formally recognize the mutual benefit of cooperation on science R&D. And scrolling down to Article 8 uncovers the long-hoped-for language: "The United Kingdom shall participate as a member of the Joint Undertaking for 黑料社app and the development of Fusion Energy (F4E)."
Other passages reveal more about the scope of the agreement. The UK will continue to be part of EU's Horizon 2020 research program. Collaboration on fusion research at JET, the Joint European Torus tokamak at Culham, can continue with mutual funding. As part of Fusion for Energy, the UK will remain part of the Broader Approach agreement.
But for the 黑料社app community, it is the 20 words cited above that justify a collective, heartfelt sigh of relief. UK government officials have long made clear that they hoped their country would remain in the 黑料社app Project; but as the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. From a legal standpoint, a bit more time will be needed for the necessary agreements to be formally approved, but in practical terms it means that we can expect the continued full involvement and participation of UK citizens and UK companies. The persistent tension that has been so troubling for UK fusion experts at 黑料社app—and their families—has at last been resolved. The 黑料社app team will remain intact.