The European Union and the leaders of its two main member countries on Saturday passed the buck to the United States on the lifting of anti-Covid vaccine patents, calling on Washington to make "concrete proposals" and end the ban export of sera.
The surprise announcement of the support of Joe Biden's administration for the lifting of patents on vaccines against Covid-19 in order to accelerate their production and distribution to poor countries - echoed by that of the Pope on Saturday - aroused skepticism among the Twenty-Seven, gathered at the summit in Porto since Friday.
"We must be ready to discuss this subject as soon as concrete proposals are put on the table," reacted Charles Michel, the President of the Council, who represents the Member States.
“On the issue of intellectual property, we do not think that, in the short term, this can be a magic solution,” he warned, however.
Read also Covid-19: the lifting of patents on vaccines, miracle solution or mirage?
The EU believes that producing and exporting vaccines from existing factories is the best way to meet global demand quickly.
It says it is the only “democratic region” in the world to export vaccines on a massive scale, while the British and Americans have chosen to reserve their production for their own population.
Macron and Merkel at the front
French President Emmanuel Macron called "very clearly on the United States to end export bans not only of vaccines but of components of these vaccines which prevent production".
"The key to producing vaccines faster for poor countries and intermediate countries is to produce more: lift export bans," he insisted at a press conference in Porto.
"I wish that now that a large part of the American population has been vaccinated, we can have a free trade of components and also an opening of the vaccine market," the German Chancellor also said at a press conference. Angela Merkel after an informal summit of European leaders.
Influential voices have been expressed in support of the lifting of patents, such as that of WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Pope Francis called for "the temporary suspension of intellectual property rights" by criticizing "narrow nationalism" which prevents universal access to these products.
India and South Africa are also campaigning for such a measure at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
A hit from Biden?
But "in the short and medium term, this lifting will not solve the problems, will not provide a single dose of vaccine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.
Europe has exported 200 million doses so far, around 50% of its production.
On the other hand, the United States implemented under the presidency of Donald Trump, a decree called the Defense Production Act, which requires Americans to have priority over vaccines manufactured in their country, de facto restricting exports of doses. made in the United States, but also components.
Europeans suspect that the lifting of patents put forward by the Biden administration, and which pharmaceutical companies are fiercely opposed to, is a publicity stunt.
