Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
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LONDON – Tensions are high between the UK and the European Union, as the 27-member bloc considers restricting Covid-19 vaccine exports through the English Channel.
The European Union is increasingly frustrated with AstraZeneca for not respecting its targets for delivery to the bloc. The pharmaceutical company has reduced the number of vaccines it will deliver to the EU twice in the first quarter and once in the second quarter. As a result, European authorities are concerned that any future problems could undermine their vaccination goals.
AstraZeneca has met its delivery targets for the UK – where the vaccination rate is higher than in the EU – although some of these vaccines come from factories in the European Union. The United Kingdom placed its order for photos of AstraZeneca before the EU.
“The EU needs to guarantee the supply of vaccines to Europeans in line with companies’ contractual obligations. We will review the different tools at our disposal for this purpose, including the use of the export authorization regime in its current or adapted form, ”the European Commission spokeswoman told CNBC on Monday.
In late January, the EU approved restrictions on the export of Covid-19 vaccines, but they can only be implemented if a company is not respecting its contractual obligations to the region and if the vaccines are going to a country considered to be non-vulnerable.
We have the possibility to ban planned exports. That is the message for AstraZeneca.
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission
That was what allowed Italy to stop sending AstraZeneca vaccines to Australia a few weeks ago – the only instance of European authorities preventing Covid vaccines from leaving the region. However, the legislation is expected to expire at the end of March.
“There is an ongoing reflection process in the EU and we will consult with the Member States. All options are on the table,” added the European Commission spokesman by email. The issue is expected to be discussed by the 27 heads of state on Thursday during a European summit.
Speaking to a group of newspapers over the weekend, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We have the possibility to ban planned exports. This is the message for AstraZeneca, ‘fulfill your contract with Europe before starting to deliver to other countries’. “
Von der Leyen had already asked for tougher export restrictions last week.
“We will reflect on whether exports to countries that have higher vaccination rates than we are still proportional,” she said on Wednesday.
Last week, the European Union exported 41 million doses of Covid vaccines to 33 countries. The biggest recipient was the United Kingdom
The UK government did not confirm, when contacted by CNBC on Monday, whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson should speak to European leaders about vaccine exports. A spokesman for the prime minister said on Monday that the UK government believes it is important for countries not to place restrictions on vaccine exports and that nations should work together, Reuters reported.
However, UK defense secretary Ben Wallace told Sky News on Sunday that blocking vaccines would be “counterproductive” and would damage the EU’s reputation.
Pfizer weighs
Pfizer, whose vaccine has been used most across the EU so far, said the region should not block Covid vaccine exports because the company needs raw materials from the UK. Imposing vaccine restrictions could lead the UK to retaliate by avoiding ingredients from reaching EU factories.
A Pfizer spokesman told CNBC on Monday that his position is in line with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, which said in January that export bans are at risk of retaliatory measures “given the global nature of the lines. supply of vaccines “.
The UK plans to finish vaccinating its adult population with the first dose of Covid vaccines by July.
Despite a “difficult” start for deployment in the European Union, as described by von der Leyen last week, the bloc also intends to achieve collective immunity in mid-July.
“On July 14, we will have the opportunity to achieve immunity,” Thierry Breton, European commissioner for the internal market, told French TV channel TF1 on Sunday.
The EU’s objective will depend on the fulfillment of delivery contracts by four pharmaceutical companies and the ability of member states to vaccinate their populations.