London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

The EU unveils vaccine export controls – what happens next?

The EU unveils vaccine export controls – what happens next?

The war of words between the EU and AstraZeneca over a shortfall in vaccine doses has just escalated rather dramatically. The EU have today confirmed they will introduce export controls on coronavirus vaccines made in the bloc.
This means that as of Saturday, the EU will be able to keep track of all vaccines that are produced on the continent - and have the power to block exports to the UK and other countries.

What's more, the EU is invoking Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol (designed to be a last resort) to impose border restrictions in Ireland. The controls will be in place until March. The decision by the EU to invoke Article 16 has been widely condemned by political parties in the UK. Michael Gove has told Brussels he is considering next steps while Labour have labelled the move 'destabilising'.

So, what does this mean for the UK? While this is an escalation, there remains uncertainty as to whether this is just a mechanism for the EU to reassert authority or if it means vaccine doses headed for the UK from the EU will be blocked in the coming weeks. This comes as the European Commission faces increasing pressure from European member states to take action after an embarrassing week for the EU's vaccine programme.

It follows that bringing in export controls could be intended to (a) show the EU is doing something; or (b) send a message to vaccine companies manufacturing in the EU that they have to stick to their agreed timetables – or face action. The third option, however, is that the EU really could stop vaccine orders meant for the UK leaving the continent. While the UK has its own manufacturing bases for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the same cannot be said for Pfizer. A delivery of over 3 million doses is expected in the coming weeks. Were the EU to take the drastic step of blocking these orders, the bloc would likely face a backlash and come under international criticism.

The unhappiness with the EU vaccine programme has been clear this week as EU leaders face criticism from the press and the public. As well as the German press savaging the European Commission over its handling of the programme (suggesting it has been the best advert for Brexit to date), leaders have sought to deflect from the current difficulties. On the same day that the European Medicines Agency approved the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for use on all adults, Emmanuel Macron claimed the vaccine is 'quasi-ineffective' on people older than 65 – suggesting this was the real problem with the vaccine.

So far ministers have been determined not to get drawn into what they view as a dispute between AstraZeneca and the EU. This could become harder to maintain in the coming weeks. This escalation from the EU side also puts pressure on Nicola Sturgeon. The First Minister has said she plans to publish the vaccine doses Scotland expects each week, even though ministers have asked her not to, on the grounds that it would give sensitive information to the EU that could be used to limit the UK's supply. To do so when vaccine deliveries could be blocked from arriving in the UK would be a high-stakes move indeed.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×