Have Pfizer’s huge profits worth USD 30 billion from COVID vaccines been taxed in Europe?
5.5.2023
Question for written answer E-001479/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Virginie Joron (ID)
The European Court of Auditors states that the Commission signed contracts worth EUR 71 billion for deliveries of up to 4.6 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses[1].
The Dutch NGO SOMO claims that AstraZeneca and Janssen have chosen not to make huge profits from COVID-19 vaccine sales. Pfizer (USD 35 billion), BioNTech (USD 20 billion) and Moderna (USD 20 billion), on the other hand, made colossal profits[2]thanks to public contracts in 2021/2022.
According to their reports, Moderna and Pfizer pay almost no tax on their profits and engage in tax evasion via Switzerland, the Netherlands and Delaware (USA). The vaccine purchases were reportedly invoiced by Moderna through its Swiss subsidiary and Moderna’s profits are most likely located in tax havens in Delaware and Switzerland. Similarly, ‘almost all of Pfizer’s profits are booked in the Netherlands, where no tax is paid.’
- 1.How much tax has been paid in Europe by Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna on profits from COVID-19 vaccine sales in the European Union?
- 2.Did the Commission include a clause in its contracts to ensure that taxes are paid on profits related to COVID-19 vaccines in Europe and, if so, what rate was set?
Submitted: 5.5.2023