Vaccine procurement in relation to COVID-19

6.1.2021

Priority question for written answer  P-000039/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Christel Schaldemose (S&D)

In its coverage of the procurement process for vaccines for use in the European Member States, German news organisation Der Spiegel describes a number of potentially reprehensible circumstances that have arisen during the process.

The Commission is asked to respond to the following questions regarding the procurement process:

• 1.Is the media coverage of France’s reservations concerning the purchase of an otherwise promising vaccine developed in Germany true and, if this is not the case, what are the reasons behind the decision to purchase the same quantity of vaccines from both German and French vaccine manufacturers?
• 2.Is it true that the EU has refused to purchase several hundred million extra vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, which now have the first vaccines ready for the vaccination programmes, and if so, what is the reason for that refusal? Will the Commission do anything to compensate for any shortfall in procurement?
• 3.Which priorities were accorded the greatest importance in the Commission’s procurement: the speed with which vaccination can commence, the number of vaccines purchased, the effect of the vaccines, the number of lives saved, the communicative benefits of demonstrating solidarity within the EU, or a completely different consideration altogether, and if so, what? Does the Commission believe that the EU will subsequently be ready to fully reopen society as a result of the established priorities?