German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced support for EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's threat to block AstraZeneca vaccines produced in the bloc from being exported, ahead of a crunch EU summit on the escalating row. "I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," said Merkel. "We have a problem with AstraZeneca," she added.
European officials are furious that AstraZeneca has been able to deliver its UK contract in full while falling short on its supplies to the EU.
In her tough warning to the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant last Saturday, Ms von der Leyen said: "That's the message to AstraZeneca: you fulfil your contract with Europe first before you start delivering to other countries." Taoiseach Micheál Martin told RTÉ's News at