after weeks of tension between the uk
and the european union
over the distribution of vaccines a
joint statement has been issued
pledging to work together to improve
communications in relation to the
pandemic
the statement says they want to create a
win-win situation
and expand vaccine supply for all
citizens
it was a notably different tone to the
one struck by the eu
earlier today when the commission
proposed tougher controls
on the exports of vaccines based on
infection and vaccination rates
in the destination countries those plans
will be presented to eu leaders tomorrow
let's go live to brussels for the latest
with our europe editor katya adler
hugh those talks between the eu and the
uk on how to cooperate better over
vaccines they're
ongoing as you say the joint statement
tonight was positive in tone
but some eu leaders at their summit
tomorrow joined by the european
commission
will push for those tougher controls on
vaccine
exports which could affect the uk now
they say
they would never want to use those
controls but they
do want to get more vaccines for the eu
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a brutal third wave desperate lockdown
protests
a deadly failure so far to get vaccines
into arms eu covert woes are deepening
by the day angela merkel
normally the european symbol of karma
and control
suddenly u-turned today on a planned
easter lockdown
under mounting political pressure
this whole business has created even
more uncertainty
across the eu there is growing
frustration at a rollout
far slower than the uk's some blame
their government
others the european commission it's now
on the defensive
accusing pharmaceutical company
astrazeneca of not delivering vaccines
promised
and demanding extra controls on vaccine
exports to richer countries
if astrazeneca had delivered exactly the
number of dozers
which was planned like they did in the
uk we will be today
exactly at the same rate of vaccination
than the uk
so we have been heavily penalized
heavily on the other hand
you have eu governments like france or
spain that are sitting on
millions of astrazeneca jabs and not
using them i'm not sure it's millions
but that's a very good point we need to
accelerate now as a campaign
we need then to make sure that member
states will be able to uh
to to have the logistics about to do
this and it's true that
that in the uk uh the british government
did
did pretty pretty well in this first
phase the eu says it's already exported
over 40 million jabs in the last two
months
a quarter of those to the uk
existing export controls used once so
far
allow brussels to keep hold of vaccines
made by companies that owe
jobs to the eu now the commission also
wants to be able to block
exports according to reciprocity
if the country in question has
production facilities but doesn't send
jobs to brussels
and proportionality if its vaccine
rollout
is ahead of the eu we're not after an
export ban says the commission we just
want to secure
vaccine supply but the world outside is
accusing the eu
of vaccine nationalism and not even all
eu leaders are convinced about these new
controls
some worry they'll disrupt the global
supply chain for vaccines
and others that it will further damage
already strained post-brexit relations
with the uk ahead of their summit eu
leaders promise
vaccine campaigns will take off soon one
way
or another but rising death and
infection rates mean the short term
looks bleak katia adler bbc news
brussels
well earlier today boris johnson warned
that he hadn't ruled out retaliation
measures
if the eu went ahead with plans to block
the export of vaccines to the uk
the prime minister answering questions
from a parliamentary committee this
afternoon
was also asked about the easing of
restrictions and he suggested that
pub landlords could demand proof that
customers had been vaccinated our
political editor laura kinsburg has more
details
not exactly your normal commute are we
being greedy with our vaccines prime
minister
the prime minister leaving the house not
just for questions from the opposition
but the occasional pummelling from
parliament senior mps
there is a promise on both sides of the
channel now to work together on the
vaccine
but if that goes wrong and exports are
blocked
what would he do if british lives were
at risk
do you rule out taking measured and
proportionate retaliation
to discourage the eu from impeding
legally binding contracts for our
vaccines i think that the long-term
damage done by blockades can be
can be very considerable you're not
taking anything off the table
in terms of a british response to
decisions this week
our priority is to is to continue the
the vaccine roll out
to vaccinate the british people uh we'll
do
uh everything necessary that we can to
ensure that
uh that happens with virus cases rising
on the continent
mps wanted to know why aren't border
controls being tightened further and
faster now
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and that has to be balanced technology
made the exchanges
more tested than normal but the prime
minister hinted tougher rules might come
why have you not introduced then
additional measures or put france
on the red list in terms of in terms of
in terms of putting
putting france on the red list which is
what you're talking about
and uh and with the consequences that
would have
for uk uh uh supplies and for
cross-channel movements but uh it is
something
that uh we will have to
to look at we will have to look at
tougher measures then what may rile his
back ventures
the prime minister seemed to approve of
the idea that vaccines
could in some circumstances become a
compulsory part of life
it doesn't seem to me to be uh
irresponsible at all
for the uh far from it it's wholly
responsible
for um care home companies to to think
of
requiring vaccination what about a
certificate for going to the pub
it may be up to individual republicans
will it may be up to into the landlord
but grappling with the pandemic is still
a huge job for the government
even a year on still big decisions to
take
laura kingsborough bbc news westminster