Brussels, London work together for ‘mutually beneficial’ solution to vaccine supplies

Brussels and London announced today that they are working on a “mutually beneficial” solution to resolve the high tensions caused by supplies. vaccines against Covid-19, following stricter controls on export installments produced in the EU.

“Given our interdependencies” in vaccine production, “we are working on specific measures (…) in the short, medium and long term to achieve a mutually beneficial situation and increase the supply of vaccines to our citizens,” London and Brussels reported. announced to them.

“Ultimately, transparency and global cooperation of all countries will be crucial to finally overcoming this pandemic and ensuring better preparation for future challenges. We will continue our discussions “, the announcement adds.

The European Commission will extend the EU’s powers to block possible exports of coronavirus vaccines to Britain and other countries at a much higher rate of vaccinations and to cover incidents with companies withdrawing from vaccine contracts. , said EU officials.

Boris Johnson warns of ‘arbitrary blockades’

Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of the potential investment consequences of “arbitrary blockades” of vaccines against Covid following the European Union’s decision to tighten its export controls.

In the face of such measures, companies may question the expediency of “making future investments in countries where arbitrary exclusions are imposed,” the Conservative leader told the liaison committee, which is made up of the chairmen of various parliamentary committees.

“I think the exclusion of vaccines or vaccine ingredients is a sensitive issue,” said Boris Johnson, stressing that vaccines were the result of “international cooperation.”

“The damage caused by foreclosures can be significant,” said the British leader, whose country has already given a first dose to more than 28 million people, more than half of adults, since early December.

Faced with significantly less than expected AstraZeneca vaccine supplies, the EU today decided to closely monitor exports of Covid vaccines produced in its territory in order to prevent other countries, particularly Britain, from needing them to escape. Europeans going through the third wave of the pandemic.

The EU has said it will continue to “export large quantities” of vaccines to countries that produce vaccines themselves or where vaccination is well advanced, as the Union faces “a very serious epidemiological situation”.