Portuguese PM warns of risks
On the mainland Público reports on the EU efforts to increase vaccination capacity. European countries want to “increase the production capacity” of vaccines and “enforce contracts” with pharmaceutical companies. The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, accepts the possibility of canceling exports but warned that there were risks for Europe if this happens.
This Thursday, the prime minister explained, in a press conference, the main topics addressed in the virtual meeting between the leaders of the 27 member states.
“There were fundamentally two moments that marked this European Council. The first, of course, was the debate on the situation with COVID-19, which continues to be very worrying especially in some countries that are now beginning to suffer the impact of the third wave. On the other hand, the effort required to speed up the vaccination process at European level”, began by saying António Costa.
Costa call for European effort
In order to achieve greater production of vaccines and ensure that contracts are fulfilled, the Prime Minister says that a European-scale effort will be organized, “ using all instruments, including the export ban – if necessary – but safeguarding the supply chains, which are essential to ensure the operation of the industry, both in Europe and abroad”, continued António Costa.
Costa says, however, that blocking the export of vaccines will be the last resort, recalling that the production of these drugs requires components that arrive from countries outside the continent. “There is at least one vaccine that has more than 80 components, many of which come from outside Europe. If we refuse to export, we risk not being provided with some of these components. ”
This Friday, Portugal will be visited by the European Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, who is responsible for planning this European effort to increase the production and vaccination capacity in the European Union.
The prime minister says that Europe is the “bloc that has most exported” vaccines, asking for “reciprocity” from the other economic blocs. At the moment, production capacities are being mapped in the 27 Member States: “What the Commission is doing is articulating different capacities, so that we can respond to the need to increase production. There are phases [in the production of the vaccine] that Portugal does not have the capacity to produce, but there are others – whether of components or filling – that we have.
Thanks to Peter A for the link, and an observation that Portugal has a very good prime minister!
COVID-19 in Madeira: daily updates can be found on an earlier post.
Vaccinations in Madeira: updates can be found on an earlier post.
This man keeps coming across as one of the few leading politicians that has and sense. Well done that man 👏
… has any sense ….typo.
The way procurement and distribution of the CV vaccine by the EU has been an absolute disaster and the incompetent Eurocrats just cannot accept responsibility for their failures. Instead they are looking around for scapegoats to blame for their own shortcomings. The contracts they negotiated were full of holes and unenforceable at law. They took too long over their negotiations, and many States were price driven so too much reliance was placed on the AZ vaccine at a fraction of the cost of other manufacturers. If they invoke an export ban on vaccines, it would be a disaster for the EU. Ursula VL blames AZ and says she expects them to prioritise the EU. Bit like King Canute sitting on the beach ordering the waves to stop!! They have to honour the contracts that are legally enforceable and you have to remember that the vaccines they sell are ‘at cost’ with no profit element built in. This is thanks to the UK.who funded the research insisting that it had to be a vaccine for the World and the actions by the EU against AZ are reprehensible.
The UK’s contract with AZ is actually dated one day after the EU’s and they both contain the same legal terms. However, whilst AZ is honouring its contract with the U.K., it has not done so with the EU. The problem for the EU taking AZ to court is that it would take so long that, by the time they had a ruling, vaccines would be flowing and there would be no problem.
The problem with the EU’s attitude is that it is trying to take out it’s wrath against AZ on the U.K., Australia and the rest of the world, which is totally wrong. They could and should have handled it a lot better.
If the contract the EU had with AstraZeneca was as strong as you seem to be suggesting, a court would give them an injunction within a couple of days. It would not take a long time at all. The courts are very quick to act on contract infringements and AstraZeneca would have to comply with any injunction.
I wonder why the EU haven’t done this yet if they are so sure of their legal position.
‘The UK’s contract with AZ is actually dated one day after the EU’s and they both contain the same legal terms…’
I had heard something similar (on the BBC?). But while that is true and the contracts were signed in August, the UK began negotiating a legally binding agreement in April, which was formalised in May 2020. This established ‘the development of a dedicated supply chain for the U.K’. In return the UK provided £65 to help Oxford University execute its production plan. France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, signed an agreement with AZ in June, which later was adopted by the EU. The contracts do not contain the same legal terms.
https://www.politico.eu/article/the-key-differences-between-the-eu-and-uk-astrazeneca-contracts/
Whatever the case, I hope we can all welcome the thoughtful statesmanship of the Portuguese PM, which is far removed from the sabre rattling from EU leaders, and specifically those in Paris, Rome, Madrid and Berlin.
I know which country will get my holiday £’s.
^ Edit: ‘In return the UK provided £65million’ £65 wouldn’t get us very far!
Rubbish.
The eu took three months to hammer AZ down on price, but signed a contract on “best endeavours “ basis. The U.K. AZ contract was firm.
Different contracts. UK was watertight.
this is bollocks and you know it
Macron likes to blame the UK, shame we fought the Wars to get them out of the Germans grasp. Hopefully he and the other spiteful Heads of State will kill off the EU. Then we will see which Countries are well governed, and those who are so inwardly sighted as to fail miserably. I am sure I will still want to visit Portugal and Madeira, our oldest allies.
Macron and Merkel will lose at the next national elections in France and Germany. The worrying part is that this will lead to a swing to more extreme right parties. If that does happen, there right-wing groups will want out of the EU leading to its ultimate collapse.
Ah you mention the war….. Says it all really.
The EU are behind with their vaccination program because of their lack of good leadership … they admit that by consulting all member states they held up implementation, then they took too long to sanction Astra Zeneca as safe to use, then they refused to give it to over 75’s, so created suspicion that it was effective, then they held up the use again because of the blood clots, so who is to blame … the EU … they sent police in to raid the Italian factory on the belief that the supply there was to be exported to the U.K. The EU has millions of doses stored that they have not used because of decisions they made … now they want to penalise the U.K. because of the U.K.‘s success with it’s Vaccine program … now with a third wave imminent they have penalised their own Leisure industry by being bitter and twisted … so glad we left the EU and pleased that Wales is able to start relaxing the restrictions.
The EU want their cake and eat it, they should be careful that they don’t alienate their own member states … the U.K. gave the world the Astra Zeneca Vaccine, made a large financial contribution and it is used all over the world at cost price although Astra Zeneca has made a huge loss … I hope the EU come to their senses for the good of everyone.
All political leaders no matter what is their colour. They is only one enemy the virus They only one army the vaccine. The people will remember the good leaders They remember the bad ones even more. Lets learn from the history books. The world is at it best when it works as one the people will thank you.
Such funny comments. Some people here would be very popular posters on leave.eu – but that website has been closed down for fraud I believe.
There IS a conection between blood cloths and Astra, and lives will be saved now that we know.
Not many lives, but every life is worth saving.
Perhaps – I ask again – the Torygraph and the tabloids censored that story?
And speaking of dreadfull bureaucrats… I asked , without answer, how things are going with the UK export and import taxes and formalities.
The EU alienating other member states? What about UK alienating Scotland?
And didn’t Thatcher forbid you to use the word “alienate” – as a foul marxist word?
Stop cherry picking please.
You guys are out – as 52% wanted – so put your energy in solving your own problems, in stead of critisising the EU.
Tell me again about the NHS. 1% or 2% payrise – what did Labour say? And what became of the promises on red busses ?
How many vaccins did the UK export?
The UK – Astra (that some call a British company, NO, it is British-Swedish) agreement was a copy of the EU – Astra agreement, just like the trade agreements that the UK signed.
See? Easy to mingle in other countries business. And to quote a famous British philosopher, Basil Faulty, “you started it”.
And one last request: let’s make this a Madeira related blog again.
Finally, are there many things wrong in the EU? Of course, and I often critise the EU – when talking with other Europeans. Mind your own business – and remember that you are holydaying in a EU country, try to show some elementary good manners.
“And one last request: let’s make this a Madeira related blog again”.
The article is about the Portuguese PM talking about the EU vaccination programme, the blocking of vaccine exports and the risk of the EU not getting necessary components for the vaccine.
People are just commenting on the article. The vast majority of items on the blog are about Madeira. If you only want to comment on those articles, no problem.
So you have no opinion about the rest of my post?
People are not just commenting on the article about the Portuguese PM. Lots and lots of EU bashing in comments on ALL articles published in this blog.
I have no opinion about any of your post. Not worth bothering about. A load of rubbish.
Coming from you, insults are flattering.
Again and again.
Interesting /.. Yes, we will stop whining and winging.. We left the EU because we don’t want to be part of a system which is so fraudulent that it’s annual accounts have never been signed off by the auditors. So we will, as you suggest, sort it out by vaccinating all our population with 2 jabs and, as was announced yesterday, start booster vaccination this September.
There is no censorship on this blog and all comments are approved unless offensive. Apologies if I am seen to jump off-topic, but there are European issues that impact on Madeira.
It is 70 years since the last war and you are still arguing like kids about who is the best! If you do not have anything constructiv to say, then please just shunt up.
This has nothing to do with WWII! It is to do with the idiot Macron saying the AstraZeneca vaccine was no good for old people then Germany saying is was not effective enough for use and stopping using it. That led to France and other EU states following like sheep. Then all of a sudden they want all the stocks and want to stop vaccines reaching the UK despite the fact that because of lies and misinformation people do NOT want the AstraZeneca vaccine.
There are stocks of millions of doses of vaccines being held but EU states failed to set up distribution networks and get enough people trained to carry out the vaccination programme. Meanwhile in the UK the NHS planned the roll-out strategy long before any vaccines became available. Vaccination stations were set up all over the country with NHS staff, military staff and St John’s Ambulance staff etc all geared up. Hence being able to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of people per day.
I whose interests was the reputation of the Oxford AZ jab wrongfully trashed? Confidence in the AZ jab is around 33% in France and little more than 50% in Germany, simply because of statements made by leaders without any foundation whatsoever.
To answer my own question, perhaps it’s Pfizer-BioNTech. They are set to make a fortune from the pandemic, selling their shots at around €20per jab, while Oxford AZ are committed to providing the world with theirs, without profit, at around €4.00 per jab.
In Germany, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Switzerland more people as a share of total population are FULLY vaccinated then in UK.
Source: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
Not saying this is a compertition, just setting the record straight.
Different strategies.