The European press supports the EU’s efforts to introduce controls on the Northern Irish border

European newspapers flogged EU heads of state and government on Saturday after the bloc tried to enforce Covid vaccine controls on the Northern Irish border.

EU leaders have been charged with “incredible hostility” after announcing controls on exports of batches to the UK, including Northern Ireland.

In a move that would have effectively created a “hard border” on the island of Ireland, EU officials had planned to override part of the Brexit trade deal and require controls on vaccines flowing from Europe to Northern Ireland.

But in a major descent, hours after the announcement of the proposals, the block leaders quickly reversed the decision and declared that they will no longer carry out the controls.

On Saturday, the London correspondent for the German newspaper Die Welt angered the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, and declared that she had committed an “unforgettable Brexit own goal”.

France’s Le Monde editorial described the move as “unfortunate” and added that Von Der Leyen had “fortunately” abandoned the inflammatory borderline decision.

The Irish newspapers also highlighted the violent backlash against EU action. The Irish Times said there had been “political turmoil” and the Journal said it had raised “alarms across the political spectrum”.

France’s Le Monde editorial described the move as “unfortunate” and added that Von Der Leyen had “fortunately” abandoned the inflammatory borderline decision

Stefanie Bolzen of Die Welt wrote that Von Der Leyen had “undermined the Union’s credibility with its actions”.

She claimed that the “Anglophile” EU leader had undermined good relations with Britain in order to “divert attention from her own mistakes”.

Bolzen also called the move to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol “absurd” and said EU leaders looked forward to cornering Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

She noted that only months ago the EU had shouted “murder” over clauses in the UK’s Single Market Act that would have allowed the UK to override the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

Bolzen also emphasized how the EU had previously “closed” the Irish border issues that Von Der Leyen had apparently “completely forgotten” in its “Corona panic”.

France’s Le Monde has similarly criticized the EU’s actions.

In its editorial, the paper claimed that EU leaders had panicked over the growing problem of vaccine supplies and the dispute with Astra Zeneca.

Von Der Leyen had “fortunately” given up the reference to Article 16 and added that the EU was “poorly equipped” to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is regrettable that political interests and geopolitical rivalries take precedence over an issue that should not be lost sight of: vaccinating as many people as possible in Europe and the rest of the world,” they added.

The Irish Times highlighted in a news article that there was a “deepening” of plans to introduce export controls on vaccines.

The front page said Brussels was returning to the scene after what it called “political turmoil”.

Irish newspaper The Journal also noted that the EU’s intention to trigger Article 16 has raised “alarms across the political spectrum”.

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin objected to EU leaders last night while Michel Barnier, EU chief negotiator for Brexit, said he was calling for “cooperation” on vaccines between Britain and Brussels.

And in another bold statement yesterday evening, Boris Johnson said he had “serious concerns” about the proposals and called on the EU to “urgently clarify its intentions”.

However, in a statement released yesterday evening, the European Commission said: “To address the current lack of transparency on vaccine exports outside the EU, the Commission is putting in place a measure to make these exports subject to Member State approval.

“Upon completion of this measure, the Commission will ensure that the Ireland / Northern Ireland protocol is not affected. The Commission does not trigger the safeguard clause.

“Should the transit of vaccines and active substances to third countries be misused to circumvent the effects of the authorization system, the EU will consider using all the instruments at its disposal.

Stefanie Bolzen of Die Welt wrote that Von Der Leyen had “undermined the Union’s credibility with its actions”.

“In the course of finalizing the document, the Commission will also optimize the decision-making process under the implementing regulation.”

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the EU U-turn is “welcome” but added that “lessons should be learned”.

In a statement on Twitter, he said: “Welcome messages, but lessons should be learned; Protocol is not to be tampered with lightly; it is an essential, hard-won compromise that protects peace and trade for many. ‘

The reverse came after Brussels previously overshadowed the Brexit deal by imposing controls on the export of bumps to that country, including Northern Ireland.

The bloc unilaterally relied on emergency powers under the withdrawal agreement to prevent Northern Ireland from being used as a “back door” for exporting shocks to the rest of the UK.

The move came after the EU publicly rowed with AstraZeneca over its supply agreement, revealing plans that could potentially prevent millions of bumps from being exported to the UK, and even considering taking control of manufacturing facilities.

The Irish Times highlighted in a news article that there was a “deepening” of plans to introduce export controls on vaccines

The plans to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol aroused particular anger among British politicians.

It was slammed by the country’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, who accused the EU of “an incredible act of hostility”.

The angry First Minister said in a statement: “This is an incredible act of hostility. The European Union has shown once again that it is ready to use Northern Ireland if it suits its interests, but in the most despicable way – by providing a vaccine that is supposed to save lives.

“At the first opportunity, the EU put a hard line between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland across the coronavirus vaccine supply chain.”

Ms. Foster also called on Boris Johnson to step in and take “robust measures” to ensure that the UK’s interests come first.

Irish newspaper The Journal also noted that the EU’s intention to trigger Article 16 has raised “alarms across the political spectrum”.

Irish premier Micheal Martin also raised concerns. A government spokesman said: “We are aware of the problem and the Taoiseach is currently in talks with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, to express our concerns.”

A spokesman for Number 10 said last night that Mr Johnson spoke to Mr Martin and expressed “concern” about the EU’s power play.

Mr Johnson also called on the EU to “urgently clarify its intentions” and “the steps it intends to take to ensure that its own commitments with regard to Northern Ireland are fully met”.

A spokesman # 10 added: “The UK has legally binding agreements with vaccine suppliers and would not expect the EU, as a friend and ally, to do anything to disrupt the performance of those contracts.”

Michael Gove lodged an angry protest with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, while Labor also condemned the move. Northern Ireland spokeswoman Louise Haigh called on Brussels to reverse a “deeply destabilizing” decision.

In an interview with The Times, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator for Brexit, said he was calling for “cooperation” between Brussels and the UK on the delivery of vaccines across Europe.

Mr Barnier said: “We are facing an extremely serious crisis which is causing a great deal of suffering and causing many deaths in the UK, France, Germany and everywhere.

“And I think we have to face this crisis responsibly, certainly not with the spirit of one-upmanship or unhealthy competition. I recommend keeping the spirit of cooperation between us. ‘

It comes after the EU’s vaccine war entered a dangerous new phase last night when the bloc put in place rules allowing it to block life-saving shocks to the UK and European politicians accused the UK of “hijacking” cans .

The new controls, which will go into effect on Saturday and will come into effect by March, allow the EU to keep an eye on all vaccines made on the continent and block exports to certain countries – including the UK, which is expected to be another 3.5 Pfizer BioNTech will deliver millions in the coming weeks from Belgium.

The rules are also dated three months ago and allow Brussels to track previous vaccine deliveries after Brussels accused AstraZeneca of sending doses to the UK intended for Europe.

Health Minister Stella Kyriakides insisted that the “transparency mechanism” should not target any country, even if the Croatian Prime Minister branded the British “kidnappers” while the EU Justice Commissioner said Britain had started a “war”.