Costa defends EU's stricter vaccine export controls

Portugal's prime minister on Thursday defended the EU's move toward stricter export controls for coronavirus vaccines, as the bloc seeks to make sure its 27 nations have more shots to boost the vaccine campaign amid a surge in new infections.

"When the European union says it will use 'all the weapons' it doesn't mean the first one will be to block exports," said Antonio Costa following a virtual summit of EU leaders.

He said it was also "crucial to maintain supply chains to not cause a global blockage of vaccines."

At the end of the summit, the EU's 27 nations were still locked in a dispute over how an upcoming batch of 10 million doses could be allocated to narrow the vaccine gap between member states and the leaders decided to push the talks to a future meeting of their ambassadors.

The spread of more contagious virus variants has pushed hospitals in some EU countries to their limit.

That, combined with the lack of vaccines available in Europe, has pushed several EU nations to impose strict lockdown measures over the Easter holidays.

US President Joe Biden also joined the summit of EU leaders via videoconference.

As Portugal holds the rotating Council presidency, Costa was one of the leaders to address Biden in the "constructive" talks between the EU and US.

Speaking at a briefing following the meeting, Costa said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together and "to improve our response to this common challenge we have in fighting the pandemic."