The British government could get itself locked out of the EU’s coronavirus vaccine programme by refusing to contribute financially, MPs have warned.
The House of Commons European scrutiny committee sounded the alarm on Wednesday over the UK’s insistence that it will not pay increased EU budget contributions for 2020.
The extra payments are directly tied to the vaccine programme, which aims to get EU members priority access to a treatment for Covid-19. The UK can still in theory participate as it is in the Brexit transition period.
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Downing Street has said the UK is interested in taking part in a European Union programme and says “work is ongoing” to determine how it would participate.
Since Britain left the EU, Brussels has increased its 2020 budget by more than €4 billion to fund a variety of coronavirus related schemes, of which €2.7 billion is to be used to fund an Emergency Support Instrument, “intended primarily as a down payment on any future coronavirus vaccine for the EU’s member states, using the EU’s collective buying power,” the committee of MPs said in a report.
The European Commission says the UK has to pay for the emergency support instrument, but could also benefit from it. Under the terms of the Brexit transition period negotiated by Boris Johnson, the UK has to follow EU rules and policies without any say.
But the British government is arguing that because the Covid-19 spending required a legal change to the EU’s spending limits for 2020 agreed only after the UK had left the EU, “it is not obliged to pay towards it under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement”. Ministers say they are in “discussions” with the EU over the issue.
“It is not clear what the outcome of these ‘discussions’ with the EU is to date, nor how it will affect any potential UK participation in the EU’s scheme for collective Advance Purchase Agreements for a future coronavirus vaccine, on which part of €2 billion at issue — and therefore the UK’s putative share — is due to be spent,” the European scrutiny committee says.
“The Government apparently disputes whether it has a legal obligation under that Agreement to contribute towards a €2 billion (£1.8 billion) increase in EU spending on the ‘Emergency Support Instrument’, which could affect the UK’s ability to participate in an EU-led initiative to use part of this money to secure a supply of any future coronavirus vaccine.”
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1/66 A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover
Sky News/AFP via Getty
2/66 Getty
3/66 Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
AFP via Getty Images
4/66 Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
5/66 Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square
REUTERS
6/66 The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels
PA
7/66 Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
8/66 A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square
PA
9/66 EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium
EPA
10/66 A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
PA
11/66 Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London
AFP via Getty Images
12/66 A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London
AP
13/66 Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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14/66 Pro-EU campaigners take part in a ‘Missing EU Already’ rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
15/66 A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent
PA
16/66 Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster
PA
17/66 A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
18/66 The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh
AP
19/66 Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany
EPA
20/66 Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard
REUTERS
21/66 A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square
PA
22/66 Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square
Getty Images
23/66 An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
24/66 Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
25/66 A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London
AFP via Getty Images
26/66 People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
27/66 A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square
Getty Images
28/66 Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
29/66 Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square
Getty Images
30/66 An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street
AP
31/66 Pro EU supporters display a banner ‘ Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out’ from Westminster bridge
EPA
32/66 Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square
Getty
33/66 A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a ‘Brexit Day’ t-shirt
Reuters
34/66 People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
Reuters
35/66 AFP via Getty
36/66 A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt
Reuters
37/66 Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day
Reuters
38/66 Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament
Getty Images
39/66 Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day
PA
40/66 AP
41/66 Getty
42/66 Getty Images
43/66 Pro-EU activists protest
Getty Images
44/66 A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag
AP
45/66 Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
46/66 Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
47/66 A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square
AP
48/66 A man carries an EU themed wreath
Reuters
49/66 Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament
PA
50/66 Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square
PA
51/66 Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge
Getty
52/66 British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day
AFP via Getty
53/66 Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square
Reuters
54/66 Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square
AP
55/66 Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
56/66 French newspapers
PA
57/66 Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border
PA
58/66 National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day
AP
59/66 Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
60/66 Britain’s departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc’s parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31
Reuters
61/66 A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square
Reuters
62/66 People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square
Getty
63/66 A man walks with a St. George’s flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day
Reuters
64/66 A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store
Reuters
65/66 British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time
Reuters
66/66 Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament
EPA
1/66 A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover
Sky News/AFP via Getty
2/66 Getty
3/66 Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
AFP via Getty Images
4/66 Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
5/66 Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square
REUTERS
6/66 The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels
PA
7/66 Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
8/66 A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square
PA
9/66 EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium
EPA
10/66 A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
PA
11/66 Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London
AFP via Getty Images
12/66 A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London
AP
13/66 Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
14/66 Pro-EU campaigners take part in a ‘Missing EU Already’ rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
15/66 A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent
PA
16/66 Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster
PA
17/66 A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
18/66 The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh
AP
19/66 Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany
EPA
20/66 Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard
REUTERS
21/66 A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square
PA
22/66 Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square
Getty Images
23/66 An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
24/66 Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
25/66 A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London
AFP via Getty Images
26/66 People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
27/66 A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square
Getty Images
28/66 Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
29/66 Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square
Getty Images
30/66 An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street
AP
31/66 Pro EU supporters display a banner ‘ Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out’ from Westminster bridge
EPA
32/66 Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square
Getty
33/66 A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a ‘Brexit Day’ t-shirt
Reuters
34/66 People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
Reuters
35/66 AFP via Getty
36/66 A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt
Reuters
37/66 Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day
Reuters
38/66 Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament
Getty Images
39/66 Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day
PA
40/66 AP
41/66 Getty
42/66 Getty Images
43/66 Pro-EU activists protest
Getty Images
44/66 A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag
AP
45/66 Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
46/66 Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
47/66 A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square
AP
48/66 A man carries an EU themed wreath
Reuters
49/66 Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament
PA
50/66 Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square
PA
51/66 Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge
Getty
52/66 British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day
AFP via Getty
53/66 Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square
Reuters
54/66 Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square
AP
55/66 Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
56/66 French newspapers
PA
57/66 Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border
PA
58/66 National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day
AP
59/66 Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
60/66 Britain’s departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc’s parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31
Reuters
61/66 A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square
Reuters
62/66 People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square
Getty
63/66 A man walks with a St. George’s flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day
Reuters
64/66 A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store
Reuters
65/66 British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time
Reuters
66/66 Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament
EPA
The government was accused of being “ideological” earlier this year after it declined to take part in an EU procurement scheme to buy personal protective equipment, of which the UK had a major shortage at the time.
After that criticism, Downing Street said it would consider taking part in future Covid-19 procurement schemes organised by the EU. While defending their actions, government ministers had argued variously that the schemes provided no advantage, that it had missed the deadlines to participate due to a communications error, and that they had in fact joined the scheme.
Asked about the situation with the vaccine procurement programme and the budget contribution increase, a government spokesperson was vague and said only: “Work is ongoing to determine whether and how the UK participates in the EU Vaccines Strategy.”
Source: UK Politics - www.independent.co.uk