Political relations between UK-EU

[Gaylord du Bois]

 

[west didsblue]

Bollocks - this is the key issue that is going to affect relations between the EU and the UK at the moment

I can understand you being uncomfortable and wanting the issue shunted elsewhere

You think a contract row between an Anglo-Swedish multinational and the EU is going to affect our future relationship with the EU. I happen to think that the EU and AZ will quietly come to an agreement behind closed doors and the current heated rhetoric will calm down within a relatively short period of time without any long term effects because it’s in no one’s interest for it to drag on.

 

[Ban-jani]

They want to see the U.K. contract is the first step, that’ll dictate if it’s a full blown diplomatic row or remains just one between them and the company.

They can get to fuck.

We are under no obligation to show them anything, it’s between us and AZ.

The fact they’ve only just approved the vaccine is absolutely ridiculous.

If someone told me a bloc was acting in this way during the pandemic, a few months ago, I’d have put a chunk of money on it being Trump’s America.

 

[Vic]

I hadn’t seen that, just that they believe they’re entitled to some from the U.K. site. If they think their contract overrules another one then that’s ridiculous. I get the fairness argument to an extent but it’s meaningless.

What if the supplier tells you there are no other contracts that overrule yours, but there is?

 

[Vic]

Obviously this is one for the legal experts to sort and I doubt many who post on here fall into that category.

There are clearly some inexperts on here.

 

[Vic]

they are demanding that AZ supply from the UK plant but that the breaks our contract. Media headlnes are more along the lines of EU demands UK supply the vaccine.

they are seemingly now blocking exports of vaccines to us.

How do you know it breaks the UK contract with AZ?

 

[metalblue]

Nope, like I’ve said a few times, I think they were stupid.

Ok - so it cannot be said that they have breached contract on this particular point as it was signed in good faith by both parties.

 

[Ban-jani]

There are clearly some inexperts on here.

I’ll use this line the next time someone is talking about the dent to the fishing industry.

 

[meltonblue]

They can get to fuck.

We are under no obligation to show them anything, it’s between us and AZ.

The fact they’ve only just approved the vaccine is absolutely ridiculous.

If someone told me a bloc was acting in this way during the pandemic, a few months ago, I’d have put a chunk of money on it being Trump’s America.

Absolutely, we can refuse it and will do. Bear in mind the only reason they’ll want to see it is because of AZ though. That interview the CIO did the other day, he either poorly worded his response or was an idiot and I can’t imagine the U.K. were happy at all with it either.

Them only just approving it is irrelevant to the row.

 

[metalblue]

I suspect AZ thought they could fulfill both contracts without any issues, or at least no major ones.

Perhaps gambled rather than ‘thought’.

Undoubtedly they did. Without malice

 

[Vic]

The EU constantly threatening a vaccine manufacturer who are dishing it out at cost as a humanitarian effort and sticking up a border in NI were not what I was expecting from Jan 2021

At cost, part enabled by the EU payig them £300m.

 

[grunge]

How do you know it breaks the UK contract with AZ?

AZ said so days ago. UK contact was 1st supply. The uk plant is full filling the Uk contract and once that contract is fulfilled shipments will move from UK to EU.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

This stock might not have existed but for the EU's order for and payment for 300m doses upfront.

According to Katya Adler the EU hasn't paid up."In reality, Brussels has yet to hand over a substantial lump of the promised amount"

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

This stock might not have existed but for the EU's order for and payment for 300m doses upfront.

The UK placed an order and paid 65M of course the stock would have been there.

 

[Ban-jani]

Absolutely, we can refuse it and will do. Bear in mind the only reason they’ll want to see it is because of AZ though. That interview the CIO did the other day, he either poorly worded his response or was an idiot and I can’t imagine the U.K. were happy at all with it either.

Them only just approving it is irrelevant to the row.

I am not defending AZ in terms of their EU agreement, it’s not where my focus is. I am very grateful for the work they’ve done and by not making a profit in doing it but I can sympathise with the EU being annoyed, even though they have made a mess of it themselves.

What I cannot abide is their acting like a gangster state towards the UK, because of their cock up. This whole border issue is going to be big now I feel and we need to stand our ground.

They’ve essentially given a massive reason for those that wished to leave to wave around, I honestly cannot believe they’re throwing their weight around like this.

I am not sure if it’s the new leadership, that woman looks dead behind her eyes, but the EU is and was a force for good, it’s beyond disappointing.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

The UK is not producing supplies. AZ is producing vaccines in the UK that the EU has paid for.

The UK has paid for them.

 

[meltonblue]

Ok - so it cannot be said that they have breached contract on this particular point as it was signed in good faith by both parties.

All that would show is whether they breached good faith or not when they initially signed it, not whether they’ve breached the contract now. If you’re saying the EU might have a case they did breach it at the time of signing due to it, then I agree. Again, down to the stupidity of AZ of agreeing to that clause and now giving their agreement with the U.K. as a valid reason for not fulfilling the contract.

Think about the implications of what you’re suggesting there. It would be a get out clause for virtually everything.

 

[Metal Biker]

Enacting the protocol? What exact purpose is that going to serve?

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

It's not just the AstraZeneca vaccine that the EU is having problems producing though is it. Pfizer is the same, perhaps if they had got their finger out of the arses and invested in these companies in advance then production levels could have been ramped up from day 1. The UK government invested public money into the Vaccine production at the UK based factory's.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

I’m guessing, from my relatively uneducated position, that the EU are just posturing to try to cover their arses and that actually they haven’t got a leg to stand on?

Looks that way. When even the fanatically pro EU Guardian has a main article saying just that and that they fucked up completely then you know the game is up. The article even manages to lavishly praise the UK procurement approach. A first for them.