Political relations between UK-EU

[meltonblue]

What is the end game for the EU here? Do they want AZ to break their contract with the UK to provide vaccine to the EU instead?
Thats not going to happen unleess the UK plays balls, regardless of how much the EU throws its toys out of the pram. Are the EU going to take legal action on a company who is providing the vaccine at cost? Thats not really going to look well. The EU can whinge all it wants, its cards do not look too good from here.

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.

 

[metalblue]

We've not seen the UK contract. The priority might have been for the first 100 doses. Even if it were more, AZ has still warranted that no other contract would prevent the EU getting its share.

No we haven’t (as of yet). However “AstraZeneca will work to make up to 30 million doses available by September for people in the UK” it is implied that will be the first 30m doses produced based on anticipated outputs etc.

That this was in the public domain significantly weakens a EU position of “only AZ knew” if any other agreements would prevent AZ fulfilling its contract with the EU. It simply does not stand up to scrutiny.

 

[BobKowalski]

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

If AZ were actually dishing out the vaccine we wouldn’t be having this argument :)

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Yep which would back up the EU saying that would be a breach of contract.

Apologies quoted you by mistake mate.

 

[meltonblue]

No we haven’t (as of yet). However “AstraZeneca will work to make up to 30 million doses available by September for people in the UK” it is implied that will be the first 30m doses produced based on anticipated outputs etc.

That this was in the public domain significantly weakens a EU position of “only AZ knew” if any other agreements would prevent AZ fulfilling its contract with the EU. It simply does not stand up to scrutiny.

No it doesn’t, they’re not saying only AZ knew. It’s more it doesn’t matter whether AZ have other contracts that have priorities attached - they specifically state they won’t impede on their ability to fulfil their obligations. That the U.K. had ordered those doses is probably what led to that clause being put in in the first place.

 

[metalblue]

No it doesn’t, they’re not saying only AZ knew. It’s more it doesn’t matter whether AZ have other contracts that have priorities attached - they specifically state they won’t impede on their ability to fulfil their obligations. That the U.K. had ordered those doses is probably what led to that clause being put in in the first place.

Ok. So let’s break this particular point down.

Do you think AZ knowingly lied when they signed the contract with the EU?

 

[BobKowalski]

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.

One hates to point out the obvious, but if we aren’t going to send vaccines made here to Europe, I’m not sure why we would expect Europe to send vaccines made there to us.

It kind of cuts both ways.

 

[meltonblue]

Ok. So let’s break this particular point down.

Do you think AZ knowingly lied when they signed the contract with the EU?

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

 

[BobKowalski]

Ok. So let’s break this particular point down.

Do you think AZ knowingly lied when they signed the contract with the EU?

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

Perhaps gambled rather than ‘thought’.

 

[meltonblue]

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

Perhaps gambled rather than ‘thought’.

Exactly that.