Written by Caroline Bell
[This article first appeared in Briefings for Britain. We republish with kind permission. You can read Part 1 here.]
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Vaccine war? Mais non…
European sources said that “a loaded gun had been put on the table” at the EU summit (vaccine export controls). Its barrel is pointing at London, with the aim of forcing the UK to offer Brussels some of its own vaccines in return for the EU graciously allowing vaccines paid for by the British government to be shipped from the Continent to the UK. Contract law? Private companies? Court injunctions? Forget it. This loaded gun of course has nothing to do with starting a vaccine war, according to French foreign minister Yves Le Drian. How ridiculous that would be. But in an interview on 26 March he went on to accuse the British government of “blackmail” (in relation to what is unclear) by refusing to surrender millions of doses of a vaccine which British citizens are happy to take, but which has been so trashed by European politicians that EU countries are storing more jabs than they can deliver. He then remarked that the UK “has a problem with second doses”, implying that the EU would ban the export of (mainly Pfizer) vaccines to the UK, thereby directly threatening the most vulnerable British citizens who received first dose vaccines a couple of months ago. This threat has now been explicitly made by French MEP Pascal Canfin (The EU is ready to deprive Britons of their second vaccine doses), who is “convinced” that Britain will give up UK-made AstraZeneca vaccines in order to receive second dose Pfizer vaccines (which, however, rely on British components).
If this is not a war, the imagery, the menaces and the possible consequences surely make it look like one.
The Italian job?
The British press kept abreast of Le Drian’s threats, but doesn’t seem to have noticed where this French assault is headed nor how it has been carefully set up. Clarification came on Saturday, in an interview given by France’s industry minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who was pleased to announce a big increase in the availability of vaccines in France from April.
Talking about AstraZeneca, she said without hesitation that the European Union “has secured doses by blocking doses in Italy. There is now a pool of 29 million doses [of AZ]. Out of 29 million doses, 16 million were destined for the European market. We are in discussions about the remainder of those doses, but the advantage now is that we have got our hands on them.”
It seems that far from considering just an export ban, the French government is talking about the seizure of private property from a pharmaceutical factory. And it has been planned. A totally false accusation was made the day before the EU summit that AstraZeneca had been “stockpiling” vaccines bottled at its factory in Italy in order to “smuggle” them to the UK. On a “tip off” from the French (of course) EU Commissioner Thierry Le Breton, Italian police raided the premises. Imagine that. Armed carabinieri descending on a pharmaceutical bottling plant and impounding vaccines… It transpired that the doses were in fact intended for the EU (Belgium was mentioned) and to third countries under the Covax scheme. The story went cold as the EU summit took place, with the public naturally assuming that the EU vaccines would be dispatched to EU countries and the Covax vaccines to their lawful recipients.
But remember: “We have got our hands on them”. Was the French minister lying about “discussions” (presumably with the EU) on dividing up the “hidden” vaccine stash? It appears not. France’s ubiquitous Europe Minister Clément Beaune announced on France 2 on 28 March that France would receive “at least 2 million” of these doses “found” in Italy … But then 16 million doses were already intended for the EU.
Communications war or vaccine war?
So, is this yet another front in the French communications war against AstraZeneca, to make President Macron look good by pretending to secure “hidden” vaccines which were destined for the EU anyway, or is France going to get 2 million extra doses from the 13 million AstraZeneca vaccines blocked in Italy which are due to be exported to poorer countries under the Covax scheme? It is an extremely important question.
If the latter were true (and one sincerely hopes it is not) it would represent not only the ultimate hypocrisy by M. Macron, so keen to burnish his humanitarian credentials by offering to vaccinate the entire globe, but a flagrant breach of the law.
Why are we paying for access to the Eu market , closed due to corona anyway.
I mounted a one man blockade of the french wine rack when shopping .
Boycott now
I have come late to the party for these posts but agree with everyone on here especially boycotting European goods which I have been doing since 2016, as far as possible and everything that is edible.
Agreed Jack Thomas! are they not the nastiest snakes on this earth? we must fight so lets start by Boycotting any goods or Farm produce. I found South African pears today right next to eu ones so its possible
As far as fruit is concerned, when you think about it, buying from the Southern Hemisphere means they are in season when ours are not.
Jack Thomas….Spot on and completely agree.
I begin to suspect that we have reached a stage where you can trust nobody , no institution, no profession,no media and no government or its apologists.
This is a strange turn of events. Brought about by many malign factors
First Mrs Thatchers acceptance of all sorts of American nonsense and procedures, and laws.
Second Lack of politicians and Queens Authority and hence responsibility. Bypassed by Civil Service and EU..
Third a dissatisfied and uncontrolled, disempowered, swollen Civil Service Who are not sure who they are responsible to now. But the most vociferous and ignorant, neighbour, Politicians…. Supported by an ignorant public, not understanding that’ democracy’ has been broken, stepping forward.
Fourth. The BBC through its multitude of committees and strange uneducated creative workforce, became left wing opinionated and were able to undermine the views and actions of control in favour of creativity. Using a so called Charter they put together. ( Politics, they love grandiose )
Fifth. Using this wierd “Charter”, The BBC bullied little politicians and in return did ‘favors’ and became in the process corrupt to external demands.
Our country was, and is now, governed by a triumverate ( Caesar, Brutus and Cassius I think ) Of BBC Editors, Mandarins seekig to expand , and fearful politicians.
And that is my view of where we have been for 3 years, and remain
To change it ? A party to frighten all three Politics, Mandarins, and Media. A party of universal appeal. That cannot be removed, that is based in the public itself
Go on somebody
PS. A truthfull BBC. The world would hold its breath at the 6 pm news!
An ambitionless Civil service. The world would ask our advice.
A democratic and lobby-less Parliament free of corruption. and free of the political sewage of politicians in the House of Lords.
The worlds admiration.
Our peoples prosperity and by example, that of others.
TG Spokes……..however you can always rely on UKIP and its committees!!!
It is clear the depth of your dissatisfaction is in direct proportion to the growth fo the state and its tentacles into every aspect of our lives. Until someone/political party can persuade the people that it is in their financial, social, communal and ultimately their general happiness that we reduce the size of the state by half then nothing with change. They must understand that the state has gone feral and it needs putting on a leash.
Agree about ‘the state’ Jake.
Don’t know whether it’s the state to blame but the inter net has gone crazy, last couple of days.
Wed. and Thurs. did not receive a normal email and had difficulty signing up for it again. Waiting to see whether that resolved.
Today can not buy from Amazon uk. To ‘log in’ I had to tap something, apparently on my phone. It seems it is now compulsory for everyone to have a smart phone and/or touch screen computer!
Let’s face it; our traditional enemies across the Channel have reverted to form, if they ever lost it. Time to treat them in the same way and seek trade elsewhere in the world. Trade with the English speaking nations would be a good start along with limiting European investment in our country.
I agree Jack . The Commonwealth is a wonderful creation . In one step the Queen stopped politics and created something the powerful cannot control. I think she should offer membership of the Europian Commonwealth to Cyprus, Southern Ireland. Malta, Greece,
and any country that throws off the Yoke of Islamic Femal Abusers. Several EU countries already have members of our Queens family as figureheads ( Elected Presidents ? Do me a favour )
Jack Thomas. Yes. Seek trade elsewhere especially English speaking. That’s about the only thing this government do seem to have been doing. Limiting European investment here. Well I’m not sure how these things work to be honest but is that how European companies have stolen our productive capacity?
I feel like saying to the vaccine companies ‘oh pack up there and bring it all here’ Obviously not possible unfortunately but somehow make it clear to the world that G.B. can be trusted E.U. not so.