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HEALTH-VIRUS-EU-VACCINE-CONTRACT
EU publishes redacted AstraZeneca vaccine contract
BRUSSELS, Jan 29, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The European Commission published a
redacted version of its contract with drugs giant AstraZeneca on Friday,
hoping to prove the company had breached a commitment on coronavirus vaccine
deliveries.
Releasing the document, EU spokesman Eric Mamer said it would show that
the contract covers AstraZeneca plants in the UK and that “these plants will
contribute to the effort… to deliver doses to the European Union”.
AstraZeneca’s CEO Pascal Soriot argued in a media interview this week that
deliveries of vaccine in Europe had been slowed because of glitches in its
Belgian plant.
Britain, meanwhile, had signed its contract three months earlier than
Brussels had and the firm used the time to resolve production problems and
launch deliveries.
But the Europe Commission reacted angrily, insisting that its contract
does not stipulate that Britain production be reserved for UK deliveries and
that it was for the firm to meet its commitments.
Mamer said that the previously confidential contract would prove that
AstraZeneca had signed up for a clear delivery schedule and not simply to
make its “best efforts” to serve the EU contract.
“So in our mind, there is absolutely no doubt that we have a firm
commitment with the company and as with all other companies to deliver doses
according to specific schedules,” Mamer said.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1825HRS