I was saddened by the outbreak of war and horrendous misinformation regarding the AZ vaccine.
before I retired I was a contract manager for a major company, i wrote and negotiated contacts up to £350m, not minor league.
For such senior people to claim that ‘Best Endevours’ or Best Reasonable Endevours’ was anything but, we will do our best is frankly ludicrous. Even the Belgian Governments Lawyers said it was rather unlikely they would win the argument.
Then to claim that the AZ vaccine was paid for by the EU? Pardon, simply untrue. It was a UK sponsored vaccine. The initial contract and press release in April is clear, Not for profit (please note EU Commission) first to be supplied to the UK, for distribution and production around the world to assist the world in defeating COVID. Please go and check, it was a suprise to me from a Tory Government.
As I understand it the only money changing hands was to increase production facilities at the AZ Belgian plant. The Commission should look at its self to see why that is late. Hmmmm, is there some red tape and some inspection and assurance issues here? Oh I think so. Then the EU ordered 3 months late, oh is there another red tape issue? Then the EU takes longer to approve, no idea why, could it be red tape? The UK had authorised parallel approval, its approved as a rolling process, not wait for it to complete then look at it. Thats how my Research Scientist friend saw it. So could it be, rather a hash on the part of the EU. I think it fair to say it was. For me, the EU demanding that they pay less for the AZ vaccine that the UK when its a not for profit product left me stunned, the final straw.
The sad fact is that the UK made a hash of the initial stages of the pandemic but is doing rather better than most at getting out of it via vaccinations. To then be attacked by the EU is very disapointing to say the least. Especially when considering the fact that the EU may very well rely on UK produced vaccines to get its self out of its self made hole. I imagine some of the commentators on here would have said if it was the other way round the EU would have said ‘well you voted for it’ a rather a lame argument normally.
So the EU decides, well we will threaten the UK, we will ban exports of Pfizer vaccine and close the Irish border!!!
So lets look at that:
- The UK has a lot of vaccines, has ordered 370m so will have a massive surplus, best is to ask I would have thought not bully.
- The Pfizer vaccine is far more expensive and I think the UK Government would not have been too unhappy for the EU to have forced breach of contract, rather frustration of contract. Either way we could reasonably have walked away. Not a great outcome but there we are.
- Closing the border by invoking article 16 could have caused a civil war. Thanks guys.
- Threatening the UK usually backfires. I know on here it is jeered at, taken as jingoism but being stubborn is a national trait and many people are very glad that it is.
For goodness sake, when will the EU commission and the nice Mr Macron learn, no one wins such conflicts. A reasonable approach would almost certainly have produced a far better result. The UK will be awash with vaccine and soon. Lets hope that they act reasonably and let the EU have it, or will it be sent to Africa?
After Fishing, power, and now this it has made me realise I dont really want to be a resident and will not be pursueing the application. It also means that I can get the vaccine in 2 weeks time, I am 60, so reverting to UK main and France second home is now certain. Rather a shame but my confidence in the EU and Macron has been shattered, saying that my regard for the French people remains high, not so the leadership.
In the UK my neigbour says the Dentist’s staff are doing them, as is the Army, all types of qualified staff and now Pharmacies!! Its topping 500,000 a day, that isnt showing off, I think the people of the EU should be asking why not here instead of trying the place blame elsewhere.
Call it Bulldog spirit or Nationalism, whatever, it works, I would have thought most of Europe would so the same.
