European Union Seeks Stricter Control of Coronavirus Vaccine Exports

Leaders of the European Union in a video conference emphasized the necessity of controlling coronavirus vaccine exports. The Chancellor of Germany called on vaccine manufacturers to seriously fulfill their commitments so that the European Union can distribute vaccines fairly.

Leaders of European Union member states in a video conference supported the European Commission’s proposal for stricter control of coronavirus vaccine exports from the EU territory.

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, said that if coronavirus vaccine manufacturing companies fail to meet their commitments to the European Union, regulations on vaccine exports from the EU territory will be tightened.

Among others, a reference was made to breaches of commitments by the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca; this company has not been faithful to its commitments to the European Union, yet at the same time has preferred to export vaccines produced in the European Union to Britain.

Ms. Merkel also emphasized that to seriously combat the pandemic, it is necessary that vaccine distribution within the European Union be carried out proportionate to the extent of pandemic spread.

No final decision has yet been made regarding how coronavirus vaccines will be distributed among European Union member states.

Angela Merkel informed that representatives of member states must decide on how to distribute 10 million doses of Biontech-Pfizer vaccine that will soon be available to the European Union.

Six European Union member states have criticized the unfair distribution of coronavirus vaccines. These countries are: Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Latvia.

Source: DW