A new controversy broke out on the evening of Tuesday 9 March between the European Union and the British government after the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, spoke of a British practice of an “outright ban” on British exports of Covid-19 vaccines.
This comment sparked a new wave of anger from London, with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, deeming the comments “completely wrong”.
As a result, on the morning of Wednesday 10 March, the British government summoned an EU representative, in the absence of the EU ambassador, whom London has so far refused to accredit as ambassador.
An information letter from the President of the European Council is at the origin of this new media battle. While the Commission suspects the Anglo-Swedish company AstraZeneca of not having delivered all the planned doses of vaccine to the EU from the UK - and therefore of not honouring its contract - the President of the European Council praised the EU’s export strategy
“The facts don’t lie. The United Kingdom and the United States have imposed an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory. He said he was “shocked” by accusations of vaccine nationalism aimed at the EU. For the first time, the latter refused the export of Covid-19 vaccines from Italy to Australia (see EUROPE 12672/2).
The United Kingdom has reportedly not banned any exports, but according to several media reports, it has not exported a single dose outside its territory. The EU, on the other hand, is estimated to have exported nine million to the UK and a total of 34 million worldwide, including one million to the US.
A few weeks ago, the CEO of AstraZeneca, Pascal Soriot, suggested the existence of a clause in the contract with London reserving British vaccine production for the UK alone.
Relations already very strained
This controversy comes at a time when relations are already tense over the British withdrawal agreement and the annexed Northern Ireland protocol.
The subject was discussed on Tuesday 9 March at the EU Council, where the Commission has received full support from the EU-27 in its move to launch legal action after the latest unilateral announcements from London (see EUROPE 12674/21).
“This is a new provocation. It is not the first and it won’t be the last”, commented one diplomat, recounting the unity of views of the Member States to “remain calm” and “firm” towards London. The Commission and several Member States have raised “a confidence issue, since the UK is not respecting the commitments it has already made”, the diplomat added.
“This is not the first time that the UK has announced its desire to violate the agreement. They have already threatened to break it with the draft law on the internal market”, criticised another diplomat. They then added: “It is therefore important and logical for Europeans to continue to show unity and firmness, and Charles Michel’s words are in line with this”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)