Downing Street expects EU to ‘stand by its commitment’ to not block vaccines

On Wednesday the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen has threatened to block vaccines exports to the UK and other countries who have higher rollout’s of the jab.

von der Leyen is preparing to seize control of factories and shipments to the UK under emergency powers, to boost a stockpile of vaccines for the EU.

She has also threatened to block all Pfizer vaccines to Britain, unless the UK made AstraZeneca jabs are sent to the EU.

An angry von der Leyen said, “All options are on the table. We are in the crisis of the centre and I’m not ruling out anything for now because we have to make sure Europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Boris Johnson warned restrictions will “endanger global efforts to fight the virus.”

In response Downing Street has urged the EU to stand by their “commitment” not to block exports of vaccines to the UK.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said, “I would point you back to the conversation the prime minister had with Ursula von der Leyen earlier this year.

“She confirmed then that the focus of their mechanism was on transparency and not intended to restrict exports by companies where they are fulfilling their contractual responsibilities.

“It remains the case we would expect the EU to continue to stand by its commitment.”

von der Leyen told a press conference earlier today, “We want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports, and we are ready to use whatever tool you need to deliver on that.

“We will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine producing countries. We are exporting to countries that are themselves producing vaccines, and this is this is an invitation to be open so that you also see experts from those countries coming to Europe.”

She added, “It is hard to explain to our citizens why vaccines produced in the European Union are going to other countries that are also producing vaccines, but hardly nothing is coming back to Britain.”