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EU member countries are divided over the tightening of the Covid vaccine export monitoring mechanism proposed yesterday by the European Commission. While some large states, including Italy, which was the first, and so far the only one, requested and succeeded in blocking the export of 250,000 ampoules of AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia, they favor the changes, which point to greater “reciprocity “. and “proportionality”, other countries, traditionally more favorable to free trade such as the Netherlands and Belgium, are much more cautious.
However, the issue should not be unraveled today by the heads of state and government who will meet by videoconference at 1:00 p.m. The draft declaration simply “emphasizes the importance of expanding the export authorization system.” A senior EU official notes that the commissioners panel discussion on the mechanism is “over” and it is “a bit early” for leaders to give their last word on the issue. First, “member states must look at the details of the proposal”, a work that will therefore be carried out at the EU Council level.
The Commission itself has been quite cautious when presenting the changes, clarifying that the evaluations will be made “on a case-by-case basis”, as both Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner Stella Kyriakides have said.
The fear is that the bans on the export of vaccines could be counterproductive: “Having a cane is enough – says a European diplomatic source – using it could lead to a situation in which we all lose.” The EU, he points out, has not yet achieved “strategic autonomy” either in the production of anti-Covid vaccines or in other areas, so until we do, we must be “very cautious” in using similar tools.
The production of anti-Covid vaccines requires a “flow” of components, raw materials and technologies that neither the US, the EU nor the UK can do alone. Therefore, if supply chains are damaged, the risk is that “the whole world will be left without the vaccines that we desperately need,” says the diplomatic source. So there is only one way forward: the diplomatic discussions conducted by the European Commission with London, which are ongoing.
In practice, if both the EU and Great Britain have to deal with AstraZeneca’s production problems, this burden should be “shared” between the two sides of the Canal. Discussions between Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson are ongoing and “I really hope” it comes to a result, the source says. Because “anything” that is done to “close the borders” will eventually “hurt us: we are not self-sufficient.”
One of the messages that will arrive today from the Council, explains a high official of the EU, is that pharmaceutical companies must “guarantee the fulfillment of the commitments”, offer “predictability” in the deliveries of vaccines and “respect the contracts”. The leaders’ draft statement says that “accelerating the production, delivery and use of vaccines remains essential to overcome the crisis” and that efforts in this direction must “intensify.”
As for the epidemiological situation, explains a senior EU official, “we are in a crisis” and this situation will continue “for a while”, at least until we have “enough vaccines to vaccinate people.” At the same time, we must “ensure the functioning of the internal market”. The leaders will also talk about digital green certificates, but “the technical work must be done by the City Council, before having concrete solutions.”
Finally, opinions differ on the Russian Sputnik vaccine, but it is clear to everyone that the Gamaleya Institute serum “will not be the solution” to the EU’s problems, explains a diplomatic source, since it would not arrive in appreciable quantities anyway. . Given that it is approved by the EMA, before the fourth quarter, it is going well.
Apart from Covid, there will be an “information point” on Russia and Turkey will be discussed. In the Eastern Mediterranean the situation has had “positive developments”, but at the same time there have been “worrying” signs internally, with regard to respect for human rights. The way to create a “positive dynamic” in the difficult relations with Ankara is to work on “economic cooperation”, on “contacts between peoples” and on issues of “common interest”, such as the fight against climate change.
US President Joe Biden is expected to connect with European leaders around 8.45pm, after a short introduction from Charles Michel. It remains to be seen what Biden will say, but a diplomatic source expects him to speak mostly of “transatlantic cooperation and geopolitical issues,” such as the relationship with China, but “I’m not sure he is raising the issue of vaccines.” .
An EU source explains that “we are talking to the White House, both in the Council and in the Commission, to make sure the supply chains work.” With Washington “there is good communication, which is good.” But vaccines are “an American national policy.” In any case, a long debate between the leaders and Biden is not expected.
Finally, regarding the breakdown of the 10 million additional doses of vaccines that Pfizer / BioNTech will deliver in the second quarter, it is an issue that is addressed in the Steering Committee, the steering committee that brings together the Member States and the Commission. . The current situation, in which some countries are short of doses, derives from the fact that they have made “wrong decisions” at the time of purchase, favoring AstraZeneca over Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna, recalls a diplomatic source.
However, many countries are “ready for solidarity” with those states that are in a “bad situation”. The Commission recommended that the states allocate those 10 million additional doses to the countries that have trusted the most in AstraZeneca and that are now in difficulties, because the Anglo-Swedish multinational continues to “deliver less”, as the Vice President pointed out. Commission President Maros Sefcovic. Finally, on Friday morning, the leaders should meet again, to talk about digital, and in particular about Digital Tax, and then have the Eurosummit in an expanded format, with a debate on the economic situation in the EU.
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