The EU tightens vaccine export rules and pressures AstraZeneca on deliveries

LONDON – The European Union has tightened up strict rules on vaccine exports from Covid, while pressing AstraZeneca to supply more doses to the region.

This comes at a time when the slow launch of the vaccine in the region is under scrutiny, despite the fact that the EU continues to export millions of coronavirus vaccines abroad.

In an attempt to have a stronger negotiating position with pharmaceutical companies that do not respect delivery targets, the bloc has extended its strict rules on vaccine exports.

Before approving shipments of Covid-19 vaccines, the EU will consider whether the recipient country has any restrictions on vaccines or raw materials, as well as whether it is in a better epidemiological situation.

“We want to ensure that Europe receives its fair share of vaccines. Why should we be able to explain to our citizens that if companies export their vaccines worldwide, it is because they are fully complying with their commitments and there is no risk of security of supply in the European Union, “said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Thursday.

Data released on Thursday showed that the EU has exported 77 million doses of vaccines from Covid since December to 33 countries worldwide. At the same time, 88 million were delivered to EU countries, of which 62 million were administered. As such, the EU exported more injections than it has given its citizens so far.

However, some EU countries have expressed concern about stricter export rules, with countries like Belgium and the Netherlands wanting supply chains to remain open. There is a risk that, if vaccine exports are stopped, this could start a trade war and other parts of the world – which produce the raw materials needed for vaccine production – may stop sending them to Europe.

The EU is also at odds with the Swedish-British pharmaceutical company for not delivering as many vaccines to Covid as the bloc expected.

The 27 nations expected 90 million doses of this vaccine in the first quarter and 180 million in the second quarter of 2021. However, AstraZeneca said that production problems mean it can only deliver 30 million doses by the end of March and 70 million between April and June.

Reduced delivery targets are a concern for EU countries, some of which wanted more of this vaccine, as it is cheaper and easier to store than others. Any delays in delivery to Europe could compromise your broader implementation plans.

“We all know that we could have been much faster if all the pharmaceutical companies had fulfilled their contracts,” said von der Leyen on Thursday.

During a press conference, she added that AstraZeneca, “has to update itself, has to honor the contract it has with European member states, before it can engage again in the export of vaccines”.

The launch of the vaccine in the EU faced a number of challenges from the beginning and the Commission, which negotiated with drug manufacturers, was criticized for taking too long to sign vaccine agreements.

Speaking to CNBC on Friday, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said: “We should not be surprised that Europe has responded very well in terms of the financial monetary and fiscal response to the pandemic, and so far not very (so) well in terms of purchasing and industrial response. “

He argued that, although EU countries have integrated their monetary policies and part of their fiscal responses, “there has never been a health union”.

Individual governments are still responsible for their own health policies, while areas such as international trade are the primary responsibility of the European Commission.

The EU’s stricter export rules could become a problem for the UK in particular, which has received vaccines from the EU. Its vaccination rate is higher than that of the block, when looking at the number of first doses administered.

European Commission figures show that the UK has received 21 million doses of vaccines produced in the bloc – most of the EU’s exports so far. The UK has administered 31 million doses of Covid-19 injections to its population so far, suggesting that about two-thirds of the vaccines used in the UK came from the EU.

“We have discussed what else we can do to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between the UK and the EU at Covid-19,” the two sides said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

“Given our interdependencies, we are working on specific measures that we can take – in the short, medium and long term – to create a win-win situation and expand the supply of vaccines to all of our citizens.”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a news conference on Thursday that a vaccine supply agreement between the EU and the UK could be announced as early as Saturday.