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Prime ministers

EU and UK in Dispute Over Vaccine Supplies as European Council Meeting Fails to Reach Agreement

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

European leaders gathered in Brussels for an emergency meeting to address the ongoing dispute between the EU and the UK over vaccine supplies, resulting in a stalemate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged "transparency" from the UK, but stopped short of confirming if the EU would impose tougher export restrictions on coronavirus vaccines. The UK, on the other hand, is planning to implement a mass testing regime for lorry drivers arriving in the country, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson flags tougher measures to prevent Covid-19 variants being transmitted from Europe.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union has exported 77 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 33 countries, with 0 million doses previously being exported to the UK.
  • The EU is seeking to honor contracts with AstraZeneca, a UK-based pharmaceutical company, before allowing the company to export vaccines to other regions.
  • European leaders are divided on the issue, with some, including French President Emmanuel Macron, insisting that the EU is no longer naive when it comes to export controls.
  • UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged the "moral complexities" surrounding a domestic coronavirus certificate and suggested it might only be possible to introduce such a measure after all adults have been offered a vaccine by the end of July.
  • Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo expressed optimism that the EU's dispute with the UK over vaccine supplies "can be resolved", citing a phone call with Mr. Johnson.
  • Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also expressed "cautious optimism" that the divisions between the UK and the EU could be resolved.

Statistics:

  • 77 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been exported by the EU to 33 countries.
  • 0 million doses have been exported to the UK by the EU prior to the dispute.
  • 1/3 of European countries including the UK have been infected with the virus.
  • The UK is scheduled to implement a mass testing regime for lorry drivers arriving in the country by [date].

Sources:

  • The Telegraph
  • Pool Photo via AP
  • Aris Oikonomou
  • https://www.scotsman.com/news/three-eu-leaders-cautiously-optimistic-uk-eu-can-resolve-dispute-over-vaccine-supplies-2881115 (no date specified in the original text)
  • https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/26/covid-19-eu-vaccine-supply-dispute-uk-europe (no date specified in the original text)
  • European Union leaders struggled Thursday to solve quarrels about the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine shots as they tried to ramp up inoculations across their 27 nations amid a shortage of doses, spikes in new cases and a feud with the United Kingdom.

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