The EU is stepping up rules on vaccine exports and putting pressure on AstraZeneca

LONDON – The European Union has stepped up strict rules on Covid vaccine exports as it has pressured AstraZeneca to provide more photos in the region.

It is happening while the slow launch of the vaccine in the region is facing control, despite the fact that the EU continues to export millions of coronavirus outbreaks abroad.

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

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

“We want to make sure that Europe gets the right amount of vaccines. Because we need to be able to explain to our citizens that if companies export their vaccines around the world, it’s because they are fully respecting their commitments and not risking security of supply in the European Union.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.

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

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

The EU was also at odds with the Swedish-British drug manufacturer because it did not make as many Covid blows 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 production problems mean it can only deliver 30 million doses by the end of the year. at the end of March and 70 million April and June.

Reduced delivery targets are a concern for EU countries, some of which have wanted more of this vaccine because it is cheaper and easier to store than others. Any other delivery delay to Europe could jeopardize its broader launch plans.

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

During a press conference, she added that AstraZeneca, “must catch up, must honor the contract it has with European Member States, before it can re-engage in the export of vaccines.”

The launch of vaccines in the EU has faced a number of challenges from the outset, and the Commission, which has negotiated with drug manufacturers, has been criticized for taking too long to sign vaccination agreements.

Speaking to CNBC on Friday, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said: “We should not be too surprised that Europe has reacted quite well in terms of the fiscal, financial and financial response to the pandemic and, until present, not (as well) of procurement and industrial response. “

He argued that although EU nations had integrated their monetary policies and some of their fiscal responses, “there has never been such a thing as a health union”.

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

Stricter EU export regulations could become a problem, especially for the UK, which has received vaccines from the EU. The vaccination rate is higher than that of the block, when analyzing the number of first doses administered.

The European Commission’s figures show that the UK has received 21 million doses of mass-produced vaccines – the largest share of EU exports to date. The UK has so far given 31 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to its population, suggesting that about two-thirds of the vaccines used in the UK come from the EU.

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

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

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