UK expects EU to stand by its vaccine commitment, says PM's spokesman

LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) - Britain expects the European
Union to stand by its commitment that the bloc will not restrict
vaccine exports which are under contract, a spokesman for Prime
Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.

Asked for a response to European Commission President Ursula
von der Leyen calling on Britain to show willingness to ship
vaccines to the bloc, the spokesman referred to a conversation
Johnson had with her earlier this year.

"She confirmed then that the focus of their mechanism was on
transparency and not intended to restrict exports by companies
where they are fulfilling contractual responsibilities," he told
reporters.

"We expect the EU to continue to stand by its commitment."
(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Sarah Young)