LONDON (CU)_Talks are ongoing between the UK and the European Union to resolve the dispute over COVID-19 vaccines by reaching a “win-win” deal. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday (24 March) the parties said that a potential third wave of the virus means cooperation is “even more important”.
The announcement follows UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s warning about long-term consequences of blocking vaccines or vaccine components exported to the country.
“I would just gently point out to anybody considering a blockade or an interruption of supply chains that companies may look at such actions and draw conclusions about whether or not it is sensible to make future investments in countries where arbitrary blockades are imposed,” the Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee of the House of Commons on Wednesday (24 March).
The European Commission has said that it may not approve vaccine exports to nations with more advanced immunisation programmes or a better “epidemiological situation”. However, the executive vice-president of the Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, denied that this mechanism was targeted at one country.
She did point out that while 10 million COVID jabs moved from the EU to the UK since the checks were introduced, yet “zero doses” had returned from British plants.
In their joint statement, the UK and the Commission noted that the parties have been discussing what more could be done to ensure “a reciprocally beneficial relationship” between London and Brussels.
“Given our interdependencies, we are working on specific steps we can take – in the short-, medium – and long term – to create a win-win situation and expand vaccine supply for all our citizens,” the statement read.
“In the end, openness and global cooperation of all countries will be key to finally overcome this pandemic and ensure better preparation for meeting future challenges.”
Meanwhile, Dombrovskis argued that vaccine controls are in fact necessary since the EU is not only one of the “global hotspots of the pandemic”, but also “the largest exporter of vaccines”.
Accordingly, the Commission and the member states of the bloc will consider two key factors before authorising a vaccine delivery under the mechanism; firstly, they will consider if the country receiving the jabs restricts its own vaccine exports, and secondly if the conditions prevailing in the destination country are better than the EU.
