Jump to content

Facing 'crisis of century', EU threatens ban on COVID vaccine exports to UK


webfact

Recommended Posts

2021-03-17T131605Z_1_LYNXMPEH2G11H_RTROPTP_4_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-PASS-EU.JPG
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference following a college meeting to introduce draft legislation on a common EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium March 17, 2021. John Thys /Pool via REUTERS

By Sabine Siebold, Philip Blenkinsop and Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union threatened on Wednesday to ban exports of COVID-19 vaccines to Britain to safeguard scarce doses for its own citizens facing a third wave of the pandemic that would jeopardise plans to restart travel this summer.

With the number of COVID-related deaths in the EU topping 550,000 and less than a 10th of the bloc's population inoculated, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said the epidemiological situation was worsening.

"We are in the crisis of the century," she told reporters.

"We see the crest of a third wave forming in member states, and we know that we need to accelerate the vaccination rates."

Von der Leyen said the flow of vaccine products was smooth with the United States but aired frustration over a lack of deliveries from AstraZeneca in Britain. She said 10 million doses had gone from EU plants to the former member state.

"We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK," von der Leyen said in the latest sign of souring ties between Britain and the 27-nation bloc since Brexit.

"If this situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine-producing countries dependent on their level of openness. We will reflect on whether exports to countries with higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate."

The European Union on Wednesday threatened to ban exports of COVID-19 vaccines to Britain to safeguard scarce doses for its own citizens facing a third wave of the pandemic that would jeopardise plans to restart travel this summer. Francis Maguire reports.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab hit back, accusing the Commission of brinkmanship and calling for an explanation after the government had received assurances that the EU did not intend to curb exports which are under contract.

"I think it takes some explaining because the world's watching... It also cuts across the direct assurances that we had from the Commission," Raab told Reuters. "We expect those assurances and legal, contracted supply to be respected."

"Frankly, I'm surprised we're having this conversation. It is normally what the UK and EU team up with to reject, when other countries with less democratic regimes than our own engage in that kind of brinkmanship."

SUMMER TRAVEL?

Von der Leyen spoke as six EU countries complained to Brussels about reduced deliveries that are hampering the bloc's already troubled inoculation campaign struggling amid reduced deliveries by AstraZeneca.

Further complicating matters, various EU nations including its largest members Germany, France and Italy this week halted AstraZeneca shots pending safety checks.

The situation threatens plans announced by the Commission to launch a "green digital certificate" that would collate information on vaccinations, tests and COVID recovery to let travellers cross borders freely again.

Southern EU countries reliant on tourism hope the new certificate can win final approval in June and go online in time for the peak season. But countries including France, Belgium and Germany have voiced scepticism.

EU countries will be under pressure to agree a common position swiftly for their 450 million people. The task is further complicated by uncertainty over whether those inoculated can transmit the virus, and public scepticism about vaccines.

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Philip Blenkinsop, Francesco Guarascio, Sabine Siebold, Jan Strupczewski, Foo Yun Chee, additional reporting by William James and Elizabeth Piper in London, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by John Chalmers, Andrew Cawthorne and Gareth Jones)

reuters_logo.jpg

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-18
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites


3 hours ago, webfact said:

the epidemiological situation was worsening.

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK," von der Leyen said

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Raab told Reuters. "We expect those assurances and legal, contracted supply to be respected."

What concerns the part of the contract signed by the europeans , it has to be respected .

But the part signed by the british can be neglected ...?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

The UK paid far more into the EU coffers than they got back. What the EU should learn is that their whole entity will not survive if they continue in the way they are, on their domination of all Europe.  The UK showed the EU that they can't bully everyone.

The EU should learn to get their vaccine programme in order and stop deflecting from their incompetence, like postponing the Oxford vaccine.

It is a pity your are trying to defend the EU for their failure.

Can you please tell me how much more UK have paid to EU for vaccin? You mix things up and not even get it right. UK started Brexit because they did not want foreigners in the country.

  • Confused 1
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Can you please read what I put. I never mentioned  the EU Vaccines, you did. Maybe you don't understand what the 'coffers' refers to.

It refers to all the money paid into the EU over its membership time (also the EEC). Still trying to defend the poor management of the EU on the vaccine farce I see.

Maybe you should learn to understand what you read and that your answer should not be about another subject. The article is about EU, UK, and vaccin nothing else an by the way about Brexit (if we should mention that), "Immigration to the UK was identified during the campaign as a threat to the economy, security and British (cultural) identity. [12] The issue of immigration was seen as one of the most important reasons for those who voted to leave the EU". (Cited from Wikipedia). 

  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.









  • Topics

  • Latest posts...

    1. 26

      Chiang Mai on High Alert as Ping River Surges Beyond 5.25 Metres

    2. 2

      Woman Fatally Shoots Popular Female DJ Over Debt Dispute in Chana, Songkhla

    3. 2,400

      Thai gov. to tax (remitted) income from abroad for tax residents starting 2024 - Part II

    4. 17

      Thailand Live Sunday 6 October 2024

    5. 0

      Drunk Crashes Into Motorcycle, Killing Two 14-Year-Old Girls in Tragic Wrong-Way Collision

    6. 17

      Thailand Live Sunday 6 October 2024

    7. 0

      Flash Flooding in Tak Province: DDPM Constructing Temporary Bridge

    8. 98

      Cannabis-Intoxicated British Man Arrested for Trespassing and Overstay

    9. 8

      The Unforeseen Reach of COVID-19: How Lockdowns Impacted the Moon's Surface

    10. 17

      Thailand Live Sunday 6 October 2024

    11. 0

      Boeing Successfully Completes First Flight of Thailand’s First AH-6 Little Bird Helicopter

    12. 90

      No wonder people like to shop at Lazada.

    13. 53

      Bangkok Will Not Flood, PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra Assures

×
×
  • Create New...