Germany and the Netherlands keen to keep lines open and they appear to have the upper hand after the U.

K and the European Commission issued a joint statement.

Given our interdependencies, we are working on specific steps we can take in the short, medium and long term to create a win win situation and expand vaccine supply for all our citizens.

A note of diplomacy as EU leaders are asked tomorrow to approve a European Commission proposal that could see a ban on the export of vaccines to the UK alarm in the commission over what it regards as a mismatch.

Permission for 43 million doses of vaccines to leave EU shores with very little in return restrictions could be introduced on two grounds.

Reciprocity is a country receiving EU manufactured vaccines restricting its own exports and proportionality is a receiving country in a better or worse position on covid in terms of virus rates and vaccination rates.

Enough there for both sides in the EU debate possible grounds for restrictions because the UK is way ahead of the EU on vaccinations but perhaps no action because the UK is providing supplies to the EU mhm, not difficult to see who is in the sight of some in Brussels.

Some 10 million doses have been exported from the UK from EU UK and zero doses have been exported from UK to EU.

So if we discuss, uh reciprocity, solidarity and we should say global responsibility, so it's clear that we also need to look at those aspects of reciprocity.

Boris Johnson warned the EU that it might scare off pharmaceutical companies if it imposes bands.

I would just gently point out to anybody considering a blockade and or an interruption of supply chains that companies may look at such actions and draw conclusions about about whether or not it is sensible to make to make future investments in countries where that arbitrary blockades are imposed and support for the UK from a German MP from a party in the country's governing coalition.

This export, if we take a look at the export ban, that path is a dangerous path.

I feel Pfizer does receive materials and ingredients from the UK.

The UK may then place a ban on the export of those substances to the European Union, which would obviously create a problem.

You cannot wrap a flag around a vaccine in this modern world.

It just doesn't work that way.

An advisor to the EU senses a deal in the air.

What I think is quite reassuring is that the parties involved are elevating this and taking it away from the very acrimonious dispute around.

Other aspects of the relationship between the EU and the U.

K is seen as being really too important to get into the political debate that's been going on elsewhere.

With a distinct feeling of spring in the air, There were signs today, the first in a long time of a thaw in relations between the UK and the EU, for years stuck in their own trenches on Brexit, the two sides seem to be inching towards a mutual recognition that on vaccines they simply have to work together.