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News about vaccine problems in the EU alternate. On Wednesday, the European Commission announced that they want to be able to block deliveries to countries that have come a long way with vaccination or have export bans against the Union.
Member States will vote on the proposal next week. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S) has said he is hesitant about the proposal, but that the government has yet to make a decision.
Swedish EU Minister Hans Dahlgren (S) is critical.
– I think it’s serious. I hope we don’t end there, he says on Expressen TV.
Want to solve the “way of cooperation”
The prime minister says he understands the discussion that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is exported from the EU but not shipped to the EU. But he hopes they will find another way to get more vaccines to the EU than by stopping exports, because it could hurt Sweden’s economy, he says.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not take the Commission’s proposal very well, but warned that it could lead to companies not wanting to do business with the Union.
– If we do not resolve that path of cooperation, it could be extended to other areas. We are completely dependent on foreign trade in Sweden and we would run the risk of ending up on an incline, says Hans Dahlgren.
Bergström: Stop Astra Zeneca Exports
Richard Bergström, vaccine coordinator, says Sweden can get more doses with rules on export bans, but thinks it should only go to Astra Zeneca.
– Some heads of government want to be able to stop all exports, even if companies deliver by contract. It really is going too far. That’s the government line, and I follow it, of course, he tells Expressen TV.
– On the other hand, when it comes to Astra Zeneca, which has an agreement, it is not up to par. We only get a third of the volumes. So it is completely reasonable to block that export.
According to Bergström, Sweden would receive millions of doses if exports of the vaccine were stopped.
At the same time, he is delighted that 29 million doses have been found in a factory in southern Italy, La Stampa revealed on Wednesday.
– It’s a surprise. We need to find out what the dosages are and where they go.
