The European Commission says the message to vaccine manufacturers is very clear and calls on them to do everything possible to fulfill the contracts they have signed with the bloc, its chief spokesman said on Friday.
Eric Mamer, chief spokesman for the trade bloc, addressed the decision taken by Italy to block the export of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia in a media briefing.
“The message is very clear … that we expect companies with which the European Union has signed advanced purchasing agreements to do their utmost to fulfill the contracts with the delivery contracts they have with the Member States,” Mamer said. .
The fact is that the European Union is a major exporter of vaccine doses, “he added.
“We have always said that we really had intense discussions with the company in order to ensure compliance with the delivery schedule, as EMA has authorized this vaccine and we urge member states to use it.”
The spokesman said it is not the EU’s place to tell the company where the doses should be directed, adding that they remain in AstraZeneca’s possession.
“We don’t make any decision that says these 250,000 doses have to go to X or Y, that’s none of our business,” he said.
“Our business is to say that the Italian authorities have made a decision that we have supported exports, because the assessment is that we need to move forward in delivery to EU countries, and this is basically the conversation we will continue to have. with the company ”.