Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

16.4.2021

The EU is committed to ensuring equitable and fair access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. With over EUR 2.2 billion[1], Team Europe is one of the lead contributors to the COVAX Facility. It aims to secure 1.3 billion doses of vaccine for 92 low and middle-income countries, including Ukraine, by end 2021.

Except Belarus, all Eastern Partner countries, including Ukraine, have signed up to COVAX. COVAX delivered the first batches of 14 400 doses to Moldova[2] on 4 March 2021 and 43 200 doses to Georgia[3] on 13 March 2021. It is expected to provide up to 3.7 million doses to Ukraine in 2021.

As announced in its communication of 19 January 2021 ‘A united front to beat COVID-19’[4], the Commission is ready to set up an EU vaccine sharing mechanism to facilitate donation or reselling of doses secured by the EU.

Several Member States volunteered for this and the Commission is working with all concerned parties to accelerate the process. Through this mechanism, on 27 February 2021, Romania donated to Moldova 21 600 COVID-19 vaccine doses[5] delivered through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Also, the Commission supports reinforcing Eastern partners’ vaccination preparedness and recently launched[6] a dedicated programme of EUR 40 million together with the World Health Organisation.

The EU acted fast to support the partner countries, including Ukraine, in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Team Europe[7] approach, an EU COVID-19 support package to the Eastern Partnership of close to EUR 1 billion was rapidly mobilised.

This included support for healthcare facilities and health workers, such as procurement of protective equipment and means to detect and treat the disease[8], but also longer-term support for socioeconomic recovery.

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_690
• [2] https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/moldova_en/94284/COVID-19%20vaccines%20shipped%20by%20COVAX%20arrive%20to%20the%20Republic%20of%20Moldova
  A second COVAX delivery of 24 570 vaccine doses to Moldova happened on 19 March 2021, see https://www.unicef.org/moldova/en/press-releases/covid-19-vaccines-shipped-covax-arrive-republic-moldova-0
• [3] https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/georgia/94910/statement-eu-ambassador-carl-hartzell-arrival-covid-19-vaccines-georgia_en
• [4] https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication-united-front-beat-covid-19_en.pdf
• [5] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_901
• [6] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_522
• [7] The ‘Team Europe’ approach draws contributions from all EU institutions and combines resources mobilised by EU Member States and financial institutions, while respecting the EU competences and decision-making procedures set out in the Treaties.
• [8] https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/east/stay-informed/projects/european-union-solidarity-health-initiative-eastern-partnership