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Ursula von der Leyen today issued a grovelling apology for the EU's vaccine shambles, admitting the bloc acted 'late' and was 'over-confident' Ursula von der Leyen today issued a grovelling apology for the EU's vaccine shambles, admitting the bloc acted 'late' and was 'over-confident'. The European commission president also conceded its rollout was still not 'where we want to be' in a humbling speech in Brussels. However, she defended trying to thrash out at unified approach for the 27 member states, even though she has likened it to a 'tanker' compared to the UK's 'speedboat'. UK government figures last night showed 12,646,486 people have now received initial jabs, with another 516,392 having had their booster. By contrast the EU as a whole has administered fewer than 18million doses to its population of around 450million people. Globally there are around 4.6million jabs being given every day, with around one in 10 of those happening in the UK. Speaking at an EU … [Read more...] about ‘We were late and over-confident’: Ursula von der Leyen issues grovelling apology over the EU’s vaccine shambles admitting the bloc is ‘still not where we want to be’ – as the UK rollout surges ahead

The EU is “not where it wants to be” with its coronavirus immunisation programme, Ursula von der Leyen has conceded, as she faced MEPs in the European parliament amid mounting criticism of the bloc’s slow deployment of vaccines. “We were late to authorise,” the European commission president said. “We were too optimistic when it came to massive production, and perhaps too confident that what we ordered would actually be delivered on time. We need to ask ourselves why that is the case.” The EU’s 27 members have has so far administered at least one dose to just 4% of their collective populations, compared with 66% in Israel, 19% in the UK and 13% in the US. The deployment has been dogged by late orders, slow approval and supply setbacks. The chief of the EU’s executive said 26m doses had been delivered so far, and repeated her pledge that 70% of adults should be fully inoculated by the end of the summer. Several EU countries have administered more second doses than the UK. Von … [Read more...] about Ursula von der Leyen admits errors in EU Covid vaccine rollout

Ursula von der Leyen has taken a barbed swipe at Boris Johnson over his 'space race' approach to vaccines as she faces a huge backlash over the EU shambles. The European Commission president complained that some countries saw the drive to inoculate populations as a Cold War style 'confrontation'. The comments, as she addressed students attending the online Warwick Economics Summit, follow bitter clashes between the bloc and Britain over supplies. Meanwhile, German minister Peter Altmeier has dismissed comparisons with the UK's faster rollout, saying Mr Johnson's handling of the crisis had resulted in a higher death rate and 'endless suffering to tens of thousands of families'. The UK hit another vaccination milestone yesterday, with 12million people having been given jabs.  However, there are rising concerns today that mutant coronavirus strains could derail the huge push - with research suggesting the AstraZeneca jab is less effective against the South African variant.  … [Read more...] about Ursula von der Leyen lashes out at Boris Johnson’s ‘space race’ approach to vaccines as bitter German minister points to UK’s higher death rate and ‘endless suffering’

Brexit talks on 'knife edge' as EU backs down over fishing PM presses ahead with Internal Market Bill as 'safety net' if Brexit talks fail Trade deal talks: The three 'landing zones' where compromises could be found Coronavirus latest news: Majority of vulnerable people will be vaccinated by end of February, says Downing Street ​Business latest: Pound plunges as UK warns Johnson could quit Brexit talks ‘within hours’ Subscribe today for a one-month free trial B oris Johnson looks set to journey to Brussels in the coming days for face-to-face Brexit talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, the pair announced in a  joint statement. After a 45-minute phone call today it was decided that the remaining differences should be "discussed in a physical meeting in Brussels in the coming days" in a bid to block the deadlock. The statement notes that "significant differences" remain on three key sticking points. It said: "We agreed that the conditions … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson to head to Brussels for last minute Brexit talks with Ursula von der Leyen

URSULA von der Leyen has been a key figure at the heart of Brexit negotiations, having been in regular contact with Boris Johnson to thrash out a last-minute deal. With the EU commissioner on everyone's mind tonight, here's all you need to know about the first woman to take on the presidency. Who is Ursula von der Leyen? The Brussels-born politician served as Minister of Defence in Angela Merkel's cabinet from 2013 - 2019. She was the first woman in German history to hold the office. A loyal member of the Christian Democrat party, she is known as a conservative Europhile. Von der Leyen, 62, was born on October 8, 1958, and moved to Germany with her family at the age of 13. She went on to study economics at Göttingen and Münster universities, spending a semester at LSE in London. Von der Leyen and medicine in Hanover before going into politics. The veteran politician is a descendant of Baron Ludwig Knoop, a cotton merchant from Bremen. She became the official … [Read more...] about Who is leader of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen and what is her nationality?