[ad_1]
To strengthen it Covid-19 vaccine production in Europe European leaders agreed, who today discussed the thorny issue of vaccine supply in the EU. Summit carried out through teleconference.
At the same time, they agreed to improve vaccination rates in all member states, as announced by the President of the European Council. Charles Michel.
“It is vital that we continue our efforts to improve vaccine production in Europe and improve our ability to supply (vaccines) to member countries … This is our highest priority and we are fully committed to this goal together with the European Commission.” “Said the President of the European Council.
At today’s summit, the 27 leaders sought to resolve disputes over the supply of vaccines in EU countries, highlighting their shortages.
However, in the afternoon, the 27 EU leaders were still locked in a conflict on how you can get rid of one next batch of 10 million installments to reduce the vaccination gap between members.
The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz he was particularly critical of the distribution of vaccines in the EU, saying that some countries received more than their share. As the leader of a six-nation coalition, he demanded a correction mechanism, sharpening the spirits among the other leaders who attended the conference call.
“When some Member States have far fewer vaccines available than others, I think this is a big problem for Europe,” said Kurtz. And for a long time. “
The President of France Emanuel Macron declared today that it supports the app tighter controls on vaccine exports of the European Union for pharmaceutical companies that fail to fulfill their contractual commitments with the EU.
“The end of innocence … I support the introduction of export control mechanisms by the European Commission.” I support the fact that we have to block all exports as long as pharmaceutical companies do not keep their commitments to Europeans. ” he said after the European summit. “Pfizer and Moderna have delivered. “AstraZeneca does not,” he added.
But also the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, During his speech at the European Summit, he used harsh words.
European sources say that Draghi informed his counterparts about the million batches of AstraZeneca vaccines located in a vaccine bottling center in Annani, seventy kilometers south of Rome.
“The Italian prime minister has asked the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, that the vaccine doses in Annani can remain in the European Union,” La7 television reported.
Within the framework of the joint procurement program drawn up by the European Commission, doses are distributed proportionallyBut some nations get less than their fair share. The vast majority of EU members believe the system works well, arguing that some nations made the mistake of focusing on AstraZeneca supplies rather than diversifying vaccine portfolios. AstraZeneca vaccines are cheaper and easier to administer than Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
