“The EU and the Member States are committed to accelerating the delivery of vaccines to support countries in need, with the aim of donate at least 100 million doses by the end of the year and help develop local manufacturing capabilities“of vaccines, indicated the leaders in the text agreed at a summit in Brussels.
The 27 member countries stressed that the pandemic can only be contained with a “comprehensive global response” and that the bloc “is the world’s largest exporter of vaccines.”
They advocated “accelerating work” to make access to vaccines “global and affordable” and supported the “leadership role” of the Covax mechanism, promoted by the United Nations (UN), for a better and broader drug distribution.
Already in recent weeks, several countries announced important donations to those with the least access to immunizers.
Germany and France, for example, they ensured that will share 30 million doses each, while Spain announced in April that it planned to send 7.5 million to Latin America, reported the Europa Press news agency.
Some 170 million Europeans, 46% of the total, have already received at least one dose, according to the data that the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, conveyed to the leaders.
In all the Member States, 245 million doses have been administered since the start of the vaccination campaign in December last year.
Despite optimism, the 27 countries will remain “vigilant” against the possible appearance of new variants.
The text agreed at the summit also celebrates the agreement to start up the certificate that will facilitate this summer travel to Europeans who have been vaccinated, have antibodies or have a negative test.
At the same time, supported the rapid implementation of a sanitary certificate that allows the reopening of borders and they started a discussion on the action plan against climate change.
Pressured by the need to reactivate economies with the proximity of the tourist season, they praised the development of the “European Covid digital certificate” and called for its “rapid implementation.”
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