EU backs down on plans to restrict vaccines to Northern Ireland
The European Union has backtracked over threats to restrict vaccine exports to Northern Ireland after London voiced "grave concerns" over the proposed move. Brussels said the move was an "error" hours after its proposals caused anger on both sides of Irish border.
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A furious row over shortages of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine has risked stoking conflict with the UK just weeks after London and Brussels sealed a Brexit trade agreement.
The EU had warned it would invoke Article 16 -- overriding part of a deal with London allowing the free-flow of goods over the Irish border -- but backed down after criticism from the UK and Ireland.
"The Commission will ensure that the Ireland / Northern Ireland Protocol is unaffected," the EU Commissioner said in a statement late Friday.
Constructive talks with Prime Minister @BorisJohnson tonight.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 29, 2021
We agreed on the principle that there should not be restrictions on the export of vaccines by companies where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had told EU chief Ursula von der Leyen of his "grave concerns about the potential impact" the European bloc's decision might have.
The European scheme to monitor and bar exports of vaccines produced in EU plants has also been criticised by the World Health Organization.
The WHO said the move was part of a "very worrying trend" that could jeopardise the global supply chain for vaccines.
Although the EU has rowed back from the Article 16 threat, a Commission statement said if there were vaccines circumventing the European system, "the EU will consider using all the instruments at its disposal".
The EU earlier justified the "safeguard measure" as an attempt to keep member states' vaccine roll-outs on track.
And Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides insisted: "We are not protecting ourselves against any specific country. And we're not in competition or in a race against any country."
'Grave error'
The Brexit deal's Northern Ireland protocol allows goods to flow between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, without the need for customs checks at the border.
Under the protocol's Article 16, either party can unilaterally suspend the terms for specific goods if the agreement leads "to serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties that are liable to persist".
Brussels had said it would invoke the article to monitor and in some cases block exports of vaccines produced in EU plants.
The move brought both sides of Northern Ireland's Loyalist and Republican divide together in condemnation.
Arlene Foster, leader of Northern Ireland's loyalist Democratic Unionist Party, called the move to invoke Article 16 an "incredible act of hostility".
Colum Eastwood, leader of the republican SDLP party, said the move was a "disproportionate and grave error" by the EU.
Invoking Article 16 is disproportionate and a grave error in judgment by the European Commission.
— Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) January 29, 2021
We face a common threat. Our response should be characterised by our common values - cooperation & solidarity.
We're engaging with both governments & the EU to find a way forward.
There is little or no physical infrastructure on the border thanks to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
That deal ended decades of violence between those who want Northern Ireland to remain British and those who want it to be part of the Irish republic.
Maintaining a "soft" border was integral to Brexit negotiations, with local leaders warning of a potential return to violence.
(AFP)
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