EU diplomat summoned to UK’s Foreign Office over vaccine row

‘We have not blocked the export of a single vaccine,’ says Boris Johnson – as Brussels’ deputy ambassador attends crisis meeting

A senior EU diplomat has been summoned to the Foreign Office in London in the latest twist in the increasingly bitter row over Covid vaccine supply.

It follows an accusation by European Council president Charles Michel that the UK government had imposed an “outright ban” on the export of jabs produced in Britain.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab sought to “set the record straight” in a letter to Mr Michel on Tuesday evening, insisting the EU chief’s claims were “completely false”.

Top EU official Nicole Mannion was summoned to the Foreign Office for “further discussions” on the dispute on Wednesday morning.

A spokesman for the EU delegation said: “This morning Nicole Mannion, deputy ambassador of the EU to the UK and charge d’affaires at the EU Delegation to the UK attended a meeting at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.”

Boris Johnson dismissed Mr Michel’s remarks during PMQs on Wednesday, saying: “we oppose vaccine nationalism in all its forms”.

“I therefore wish to correct the suggestion from the EU Council president that the UK has blocked vaccine exports,” said the prime minister. “Let me be clear we have not blocked the export of a single Covid-19 vaccine or vaccine components.”

The European Commission said Mr Johnson had assured Ursula von der Leyen that the UK did not have any ban – but would not be drawn on Mr Michel’s criticism of British policy.

Commission spokesman Eric Mamer told reporters in Brussels: “He assured her that the UK did not have any issue when it came to the delivery of vaccines when it came to the European Union.”

Asked whether the commission supported the comments of Mr Michel, the spokesman said: “We have a policy of not commenting on other people’s comments.”

In a newsletter sent out on Tuesday, Mr Michel said he was “shocked” when he heard allegations of vaccine nationalism levelled at the EU, saying: “The facts do not lie.”

He added: “The United Kingdom and the United States have imposed an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory.”

Mr Raab shot back with a letter saying “any references to a UK export ban or any restrictions on vaccines are completely false”. The minister insisted the UK “has not blocked a single Covid-19 vaccine or vaccine components”.

Mr Michel appeared to attempt to smooth over the dispute with a tweet on Tuesday evening, saying: “Glad if the UK reaction leads to more transparency and increased exports, to EU and third countries.”

The EU chief claimed there were “different ways of imposing bans or restrictions” on vaccines.

Protocol arrangements have caused huge controversy in Northern Ireland (PA)

It follows a high-profile fall-out in January, when the EU briefly attempted to trigger Article 16 of the Brexit withdrawal agreement’s protocol to impose controls on the supply of vaccines into Northern Ireland.

But Brussels swiftly backtracked and apologised after coming in for heavy criticism over the move – which came as it faced significant pressure over delays to the rollout of its vaccine programme.

UK-EU relations have run into trouble since then over Downing Street’s decision to unilaterally extend the grace period for fully implementing protocol arrangements contained in the Brexit agreement.

Brussels could initiate legal action against the UK over the unilateral action this week, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to Ireland’s RTE News, the European Commission is set to issue a formal notice to London in the coming days alongside a letter to the EU-UK Joint Committee, triggering the dispute settlement mechanism contained in the withdrawal agreement.

An EU source did not dispute the account of the legal action ahead when approached by The Independent.