The EU has struggled to distribute COVID-19 vaccines across the bloc. (Photo: AP)

European Union (EU) figures show that the 27-nation bloc has allowed the export of over 34 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines over the past weeks, despite shortages within the bloc.

The figures show that amid diplomatic tensions between London and Brussels, 9.1 million doses were exported to the UK. The EU had wanted AstraZeneca vaccines from the UK to make up the shortfall of the company's commitment to the bloc.

The figures show that while the EU has been accused of so-called 'vaccine nationalism' they continue to be a major exporter of vaccines. The exports are comparable to the roughly 45 million doses that have been distributed within the EU as of last week.

European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides said that the bloc "exports very significant volumes of COVID-19 vaccines, true to our commitment to global solidarity."

The EU said that of 249 authorizations for export granted, only one was refused. Last week, a shipment of more than 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccines destined for Australia was blocked from leaving the EU.

Kyriakides said that "not all companies are honoring their agreements with the EU despite having received a down payment to enable sufficient production."

The overall figure goes beyond the 34.1 million doses that left under the EU's special export regime, which doesn't cover shipments to many nearby non-member states like Israel and Norway as well as most developing nations.

The EU has been under pressure to increase the pace of vaccinations as member nations complain that deliveries woefully trail demand. Some have even taken unilateral action.

Hungary broke with the EU strategy of sourcing vaccine contracts as a bloc, importing the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine and the Russian Sputnik V without waiting for approval from European Medicines Agency.

Comparison with Brexit Britain

The discrepancy in administering vaccinations is stark when compared to the UK. The last available figures show that 35 percent of the UK adult population has had a vaccine shot while the figure in the EU stands at 9.6 percent.

What's more galling for EU citizens is that the UK is the number one benefactor of vaccines exported from the EU. It is closely followed by Canada, which has received 3.91 million doses, while Mexico was sent 3.13 million. The U.S. came eighth in the list with export approvals standing at 953,723.

Earlier this week, EU Council President Charles Michel condemned the UK's vaccine policies.

"The facts do not lie," Michel said in a written statement. "The UK and the U.S. have imposed an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson vehemently denied there is such a ban and the UK demanded an apology from Michel, while the EU export figures do indicate that the bloc has had a crucial role in the success of the British vaccine drive.

The figures were provided by the EU's executive commission to representatives of member countries. Overall, the representatives have no issue with companies that respect their EU contract to continue such exports.

Criticism has centered on AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish company that promised to deliver 80 million vaccines to the EU in the first quarter of 2021 but after a production problem at its Belgium factory will only be able to provide 39 million.

After the UK's denial, Michel demanded that London provide more transparency over its production and exports to other countries.