Facts4EU experts pored over EU figures after the European Commission used emergency powers to issue its Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/111 controlling the export of vaccines. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has sought to justify the move by saying the bloc is simply seeking to prevent exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in conjunction with Oxford University, until the company had “fulfilled its part of the deal toward Europe”.
However, Facts4EU produced an extensive list of countries which are not currently subject to such measures, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
Brexiteer David Campbell Bannerman, who served two terms as a Conservative MEP, told Express.co.uk: “This is nothing to do with trade and everything to do with politics.
“The EU are desperate to slap newly independent Britain down for being too successful on vaccine procurement.
Mr Campbell Bannerman added: “The attempt to ensure ‘more Europe’ by a collective approach on vaccines has backfired spectacularly.
“They are now thrashing around to divert from this massive failure.
“Even Remainer Ian Hislop is embarrassed and bewildered by EU mismanagement.”
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“The behaviour of certain EU apparatchiks is now getting to the point where we feel sure that several leaders of EU countries are starting to consider the future of Frau von der Leyen’s leadership of the EU Commission and indeed the future of some of its members, such as the Health Commissioner.”
The UK has now given vaccine doses to more than 50 of its adult population, Mr Evans said.
He added: “This compares with the EU, where less than 10 percent have received a dose.
“As each week goes by, the clear superiority of the British vaccination programme becomes ever starker, and the performance of the EU Commission becomes ever more exposed.”
Speaking today, European Commission president Eric Mamer denied Brussels was “banning vaccine exports” but rather wanted pharmaceutical firms to meet their contractual obligations to the bloc.
He added: The president has given our view of what the situation is and what are the objectives that we are following.
“This is not about banning vaccine exports, this is about making sure that companies deliver on their commitments to the member states and the European Union that are inscribed in the contracts that they have with us.
“Therefore, this is our objective, to make sure that the contracts that we have signed are respected.”
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, in an attempt to persuade them of the folly of any ban.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman would not be drawn on whether Britain was considering retaliatory measures.
Meanwhile an unnamed EU official today sought to pin the blame on AstraZeneca, saying: “The UK is not to blame. The EU is not to blame.
“It’s about everyone finding agreement with a company that has been over-selling its production capacity.”
