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I delays in vaccine deliveries by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca it pushed the European Union to go out into the field, taking the first line in this dispute, to request pharmaceutical companies greater protections and compliance with the agreements made with the member countries for the supply of doses.
The European Commission, in particular, has proposed the establishment of an “export transparency mechanism”, which is activated as soon as possible and allows regulating the distribution of the vaccine within the Union, avoiding delays and obstacles that only contribute to fueling discontent (and certainly do not help in the fight against Coronavirus). If this proposal were approved by any company that produces vaccines in Europe, including Pfizer and Moderna, it should receive priority clearance before exporting to countries outside the EU.
From AstraZeneca delays to blocking Covid vaccines
The EU threatened block exports of coronavirus vaccines to countries outside the bloc after AstraZeneca was accused of failing to provide a satisfactory explanation for the huge shortage of doses promised to member states (which did not arrive on time).
The change in the pharmaceutical company’s distribution plans was described as “unacceptable”: the EU should have received 100 million doses in the first quarter of this year, but due to this shortage, supplies are expected to decline by 50%, despite anticipated purchases before the vaccine is licensed by the EMA (European Medicines Agency).
For this reason, on Monday, January 25, during a heated phone call with Pascal Soriot, the CEO of AstraZeneca, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, urged the company to fulfill its contractual obligations. As confirmed by von der Leyen’s spokesperson: “He made clear that he expects AstraZeneca to abide by the contractual agreements set out in the advance purchase agreement. He reminded Mr Soriot that the EU has invested significant sums in the company in advance precisely to ensure that production increases even before the European Medicines Agency issues the conditional marketing authorization. “
“Of course – he added about it – problems may arise production with the complex vaccine, but we hope that the company will find solutions and take advantage of all possible flexibilities to deliver quickly ”.
AstraZenca, through a statement released by the CEO of the company, said that during the conversation with Ursula Von der Leyen the “importance of working in partnership” was underlined at a time when the company “is doing everything possible to bring the vaccine to millions of Europeans as soon as possible “. The comparison, however, does not appear to have led to anything satisfactory, so much so as to push Brussels to consider a blockade of vaccine exports outside the European territory.
The EU restrictions, of course, would also end up involving the other vaccine producers, not just AstraZeneca, but also Pfizer and Moderna.
Covid vaccines blocked by the EU: protests from England
This initiative, for obvious reasons, was not frowned upon by England. The country, after Brexit, formalized its exit from the Union and, consequently, the restrictions imposed by Europe on the vaccine – if passed – they would end up involving Britain as well.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during a press conference in Downing Street on Tuesday, November 26, urged Brussels to not impose export restrictions of any kind. “The creation of these vaccines has been a wonderful example of cooperation and a lesson the world must learn from the pandemic is cooperation,” Johnson said. So I do not want restrictions on the supply of PPE, drugs or vaccines or their ingredients across borders ”.
Who is in favor of blocking Covid vaccines?
In favor of the introduction of restrictions To export the Covid vaccines produced in Europe is Jens Spahn, the German health minister, who has proposed to the European Commission to recognize each member state the possibility of block the export of Covid vaccines off the block. Not surprisingly, Germany is home to a large number of vaccine production sites, allowing it to have considerable control over distribution.
As Brussels worked on new export rules, which are expected to be released on Friday, January 29, and as officials question how strict the regime should be, Minister Spahn urged Europe to introduce a regulation that obliges companies operating within European territory to request a kind of allowed before shipment of vaccine doses outside non-EU countries.
“It is not about putting the EU first,” said Spahn. I think it would make sense to have export restrictions, so that we know what is produced in Europe, what comes out of Europe, where and why it comes out of Europe, so that we have a fair distribution ”.
However, Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Trade Commissioner, has made it known that Brussels does not want to impose limits on shipments, but wants to require companies to provide more information where they send vaccine supplies and why. Indeed, the Commission hopes to introduce soon an “export notification tool” that will make this monitoring possible.
Similar confirmation also came from Eric Mamer, one of the main spokespersons for the European Commission, who said on Tuesday, January 26, that the goal in Brussels is not to hinder exports of the Coronavirus vaccine, but to force producers like AstraZeneca to provide a clear accounting your production levels and delivery schedules.
“I would just like to point out that the important word here is transparency,” Mamer told a news conference. “It is not about blocking. It is about knowing which companies are exporting or will export to markets outside the European Union ”.
Angela Merkel warns
This situation, it is not necessary to deny it, runs the risk of generating significant friction with other countries, recalling (and reiterating) the commitment assumed by the EU to guarantee equitable distribution of vaccines worldwide, so as not to exclude anyone. On the same day that Mr. Spahn spoke about the export restrictions, in fact, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on the “dangers of isolation and division” of Europe from the rest of the world, if we decide to move in this direction. “We must choose a multilateral approach, isolation will not solve the problem,” he told the digital World Economic Forum.
Rich countries, Merkel explained, must guarantee, according to her, the supply of vaccines even to the poorest nations. “At a time when vaccines are in short supply, it’s also about distributing them fairly,” he said.
The vice-president of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, then wanted to comment on this point, reiterating that the regime in which we are working in Brussels will be subject to a series of exemptions regarding export for humanitarian reasons. The blockade, therefore, would not be to the detriment of the poorest areas of the world.
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