Thread by @jonworth

OK, now I have found time to look at von der Leyen's actual words earlier... the whole statement is here:
ec.europa.eu/commission/pre…

Highlighted bit is what got everyone excited

"countries, who have higher vaccination rates" can only really refer to the UK and USA at this stage (Israel does not have its own production just now AFAIK)

"whatever tool we need to deliver on that" has been interpreted as the Commission wanting to use Article 122 TFEU

This is the text of Art 122

Commission proposal, requires Qualified Majority to approve - so 55% of the Member States representing 65% of the EU's population

In other words: the Commission cannot do this alone

And we don't even know if they'll attempt it yet

I hence find the words "seizure of factories" "overriding patents" "quasi-wartime powers" from UK press to be rather overdoing it

Indeed the first two of those are phrases... *in a question to vdL* not in an answer from her

https://twitter.com/nickgutteridge/status/1372172129861525512

So - in short - everyone ought to calm down a bit. Read vdL's words. And be aware this is not a decision that it is the Commission's alone to take

/ends

Also note: the EU has *already* prevented one shipment of 250k AZ doses from Italy to Australia. It *could* do the same to other exports - it has the power to do that.