UK-based applicants could apply to Horizon Europe calls in 2021, 2022 and 2023 for the corresponding work programmes under the ‘transitional arrangements’ with the UK. Under these arrangements, UK-based applicants were treated as if the UK was an ‘associated country’ to Horizon Europe, subject to the entry into force of the association agreement with the UK by the time of signature of the grant agreement.
In practice, this meant that proposals from UK-based applicants were treated as eligible and evaluated. If a proposal was considered for funding, but the UK had not formally joined the Horizon Europe programme for the budgetary year in question by the time of the planned signature of the grant agreement, then the UK participant was no longer eligible to receive EU funding and its participation was either terminated or continued as a non-funded associated partner with the option to receive funding through the UK Guarantee. For the specific case of mono-beneficiary Postdoctoral Fellowships it meant that the proposal was declared ineligible by the REA but could be funded through the UK Guarantee.
The UK associated to the Horizon Europe programme only for calls funded under the 2024 work programme and onwards. This meant that all proposals from UK-based applicants for the 2023 MSCA call, became ineligible for funding.
When REA communicated the evaluation results to applicants in February 2024, it decided to provide UK-based applicants with their scores, as this was considered to be in their best interest and might allow them to apply for other funding opportunities, using the report as proof of the quality of their proposal.
However, while REA could provide the scores and evaluation report to UK-based applicants, it could not award a Seal of Excellence to their proposals. This is because a Seal of Excellence is a benefit under the Horizon Europe programme, which can only be granted to eligible applications.
You can find the full statement here.