Enlarge image
AstraZeneca's vaccine caused trouble between the British-Swedish company and the EU Commission
Photo: Henry Nicholls / REUTERS
A Belgian court has ordered AstraZeneca to deliver 50 million doses of corona vaccine to the European Union by the end of September.
A fixed delivery schedule must be adhered to, the Brussels court of first instance announced on request.
Otherwise there is a risk of fines.
According to this, AstraZeneca has to deliver 15 million doses by 9 a.m. on July 26 or otherwise pay 10 euros for each missing dose.
A further 20 million cans are due by August 23, with the same threat of punishment until September 27, then another 15 million cans.
The EU Commission sued AstraZeneca because the manufacturer delivered much less corona vaccine than contractually promised.
300 million cans had been ordered by the end of June.
But in the first quarter only 30 million instead of 120 million vaccine doses were sent to the 27 EU countries.
At the end of May, the Commission urged a rapid delivery of the outstanding 90 million cans from the first quarter.
The court has now granted the EU at least 50 million cans to be delivered quickly.
Different interpretations of the judgment
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said: "This decision confirms the position of the Commission: AstraZeneca has not fulfilled the obligations entered into in the contract."
However, AstraZeneca presented the judgment differently and saw its own position strengthened.
"AstraZeneca today welcomed the judgment of the Court of First Instance in Brussels," said a press release.
“The judge has ordered the delivery of 80.2 million cans by September 27, 2021.
To date, the company has delivered more than 70 million cans to the European Union and will have well over 80.2 million cans by the end of June 2021. "
The contradiction in the interpretation of the two parties in the legal dispute could not be resolved immediately.
hba / dpa