The EU’s vaccine purchasing programme

27.1.2021

Priority question for written answer  P-000514/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Rob Rooken (ECR)

• 1.In an interview with Die Welt[1], Astra Zeneca CEO Pascal Soriot stated that the UK had struck a deal with his company three months prior to the EU. Could the Commission confirm this? Given the fact that Mr Soriot has been talking freely about the contract, would the Commission be willing to share the contract with European citizens through the European Parliament?
• 2.Was the Commission aware of the possibility that Astra Zeneca had concluded contracts with other parties and/or countries, including other EU Member States, and, if so, did the Commission negotiate a ‘preferred status’?
• 3.Did the Legal Service give its opinion on the contracts concluded by the Commission, and, if so, is the Commission willing to share these opinions?

Could the Commission please answer these questions as soon as possible, given the destructive consequences of the pandemic for our respective societies?

• [1] Guerrera, A., Bolzen, S. and De Miguel, R., ‘I do believe we treated Europe fairly’, Die Welt, 26 January 2021, https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article225095715/Astra-Zeneca-CEO-I-do-believe-we-treated-Europe-fairly.html