Moral, fair, competent, com informed and finding strength in numbers.

But during the vaccine roll out that's coming under pressure, it really goes against their core self image as a champion of multilateralism and proselytizer of free trade.

First, there's the idea that together is better.

The framework we are all working in is a framework of 27.

Together we are negotiating together.

We are procuring, and together we're bringing forward this vaccination process.

They have acted together, but was it better the You sign vaccine deals months after the U.

K.

On in the U.

Less than 3% of people have received at least one jab in the UK it's 14% that's linked to a huge row with AstraZeneca over a delay in vaccine supply.

On many blame the European Commission, including the leader of Bavaria in Germany, who says bluntly the order was placed too late, and then only a few companies were chosen.

Operational responsibility clearly lies with Brussels.

The use joined up approach has struggled to deliver.

Next, there's the use much publicized opposition to vaccine nationalism when it comes to fighting a global pandemic.

There is no place for me first, but those ideals bit the dust.

The moment that you threatened to block exports of vaccines made in the U today is the commission has adopted on implementing regulation, making the export off certain products subject to an export authorization.

This'll regulation concerns that transparency on export off 19 vaccines.

These weren't just any type of export blocks.

Remember how that you spent the entire Brexit process insisting that in no circumstances could there be any border checks between the Republic of Ireland and EU member and Northern Ireland in the UK This kind of thing throughout these negotiations the EU and the UK we're fully committed to protect peace to protect stability on the island of Ireland.

That sentiment appears have been mislaid on Friday is that you unveiled a plan to ignore part of the Brexit deal By blocking the movement of vaccines moving from the EU into the UK across the Irish border, you should have been able to predict the reaction of the Irish government, given that it was exactly how that you use been reacting on this issue for years.

It took four years to put the protocol together when people were blindsided by the decision that was taken and its implications for the protocol.

Politico noted that the European Commission had for a moment achieved the seemingly impossible task of uniting Britain's Brexiteers and remain Er's, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists and Shin Feign as well as Dublin and London against them.

Within hours, the you had withdrawn the threat also on Friday is the You appear to be doing everything possible to protect its interests above other considerations.

It was insisting we're not protecting ourselves against any specific country and we're not in competition or in a race against any country.

The only race wherein is against this virus.

But it looked like there was a race going on with anyone else who wanted access to vaccines produced in Europe.

On there was a race between senior U figures over who could generate the most negative PR.

One contender was Emmanuel Macron, who attacked the U K for declining to share some of its vaccines.

What politics is great Britain wished to choose, he said.

It cannot be the best ally of the US, the best ally of the U and the new Singapore it has to choose a model well.

For his part, Mr Macron's model was to enter territory normally left with scientists.

Hours after the you had approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use, the French president told us everything points to thinking it's quasi ineffective on people older than 65 Q.

Much scratching of heads as Professor John Bell, a leading geneticist who helped develop the vaccine, put in Yes, I'm not sure where he got that from.

And if Emmanuel Macron was busy criticizing the U.

K for not sharing a vaccine that he was criticizing, senior commission figure Martin Selmayr also commented tweeting proudly.

We've translated.

The EU has seen 12 million people vaccinated in three weeks and then, having looked around for a comparison he liked, he told us on In Africa, only 20,000 people have been vaccinated so far.

When that sentiment was questioned, Mr Selmayr tweeted back.

Some humility and more solidarity would be appropriate.

But humility has been in short supply.

Indignant might be a better word for the U.

In recent days, herself on the line has wanted to emphasize the good that you use done.

Europe invested billions to help develop the world's first covered 19 vaccines to create a truly global common good, and now the companies must deliver.

But if that happened, why didn't the you tie those investments to guarantees of vaccines?

That you also thinks AstraZeneca guaranteed to deliver millions of vaccines by the end of March?

But AstraZeneca doesn't think that it did now, either.

Those guarantees aren't in the contract or the use agreed.

A deal the AstraZeneca misunderstood.

Neither explanation reflects well on the you.

Peter Teter, from the German tabloid Bild, has written in the Times newspaper that the you did not do what it's supposed to do, take care of our Europe on our 27 governments, either did not intervene or intervene too late.

The fact that we in Germany can only vaccinated a snail's pace is our humiliation, he writes.

Especially when we look at the island that once belonged to Are you?

All of which raises many questions?

The European Union takes pride, incompetence, but faced with the greatest crisis for decades, it hasn't got the vaccines it needs to save as many lives as possible.