Which doesn't contradict my speculation at all. If AZ think it won't get approval yet then they won't apply - to do so and fail would be another PR disaster.
And experience to date is that EMA has been more demanding than UK regulator.
I'm not saying it contracts your speculation necessarily. All I'm saying is that right now AZ is in a comfortable situation where they don't get any negative consequences of not applying for approval.
Except that AZ is getting continual pressure from the EU to ship more vaccines to them - not comfortable at all. I'm certain if they could they would.
The missing info is why the Halix plant isn't approved for EU but OK for elsewhere. Because the EMA rules are unreasonably onerous or because AZ has messed up.
And experience to date is that EMA has been more demanding than UK regulator.