Von Der Leyen Blames EU Trade Chief for Vaccine Export Gaffe
- Controversial clause in EU proposal shelved after Irish uproar
- EU Commission spokesman says Dombrovskis was responsible
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sought to deflect the blame for a humiliating U-turn over vaccine export controls, saying that one of her deputies had been responsible for the controversial regulation.
The commission sparked outrage in the U.K. and Ireland on Friday when it released proposals for controls on shipments of vaccines from the EU into Northern Ireland, undermining its own commitment during Brexit negotiations to keeping the Irish border open. The plan was abruptly dropped hours later.