Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1
Whilst an EU member, the UK remained outside the Euro and Schengen zone so I'm sure we would have been just fine remaining outside the vaccination procurement as well.
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You’re not comparing apples with apples. The currency and the border-free travel area were both contrary to long-standing British policy, favoured by Labour and Tory governments alike. The vaccine procurement programme is a one-off response to a crisis being endured equally by all member states. As a member of the EU it would have been politically very difficult not to be seen to be playing our part, not least because while we were members it was British policy to always try to position ourselves as showing leadership (with limited success I might add).
Ireland is outside Schengen but inside the vaccine procurement scheme.
Sweden and Denmark* are outside the Euro but inside the vaccine procurement scheme.
*Via negotiated exemption - Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania are committed to eventually joining.