EC High Representative Eric Mamer said Brussels was waiting for EU member states to authorize the company to negotiate a alleged breach of contract.
According to E. Mamer, the formal address “will allow the bloc to enter into a dialogue with the company in accordance with the agreed dispute settlement procedure”.
The British and Swedish company itself has admitted to not being able to deliver as promised, and this shortcoming has slowed down an already much-criticized vaccination campaign in the EU.
The dispute has also sparked an international conflict, with EU officials outraged that AstraZeneca is honoring its contract with the UK but failing to meet its obligations to the bloc.
President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen On Wednesday, it singled out Britain, warning of the bloc’s ability to use its emergency powers and block COVID-19 vaccine exports to ensure “mutual co-operation” with other suppliers and urging Britain to import more doses of vaccines into the European Union.
The bloc’s letter to AstraZeneca would be the first official EU action it has taken since the dispute began, implemented under the terms of a vaccine supply contract between Brussels and the company.
Legal action may be taken at a later stage if AstraZeneca fails to convince EU officials that it has fulfilled its obligation to make every effort to deliver the promised doses.
EC health spokesman Stefan de Keersmaeker said the company would have 20 days to hold a high-level meeting with EU officials after the letter was sent.
“The aim of this process is to find a solution that will allow the conflict to be resolved fairly in a way that suits all parties, ”he added.
AstraZeneca was expected to deliver $ 90 million in the first quarter of 2021. vaccine doses, but the company is likely to be able to provide only 30 million. doses of vaccines.
The company expects to deliver $ 70 million in the second quarter. doses – much less than the initially promised 180 million. number of doses.
Still, Brussels is working to speed up production by other vaccine manufacturers and still expects to vaccinate by 70% by the end of the summer. adult EU population.
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