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Queue in front of a Berlin vaccination center: Problems with the distribution of vaccines in the EU
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Canfin, the EU is one of the largest economic powers on earth - but the USA and even Great Britain and Israel got off to a much faster start with the corona vaccinations.
What went wrong with the EU vaccination strategy?
Canfin:
The strategy of cooperation between member countries was the best way to protect EU citizens.
The EU has now secured around 2.3 billion doses of vaccine, far more than necessary.
If the 27 EU states had tried this on their own, they would probably have been significantly less successful, even in economically strong Germany.
In addition, when it comes to prices, the EU has made better deals than the US or the UK.
SPIEGEL:
But she negotiated longer and later, which may have and will cost many lives.
Canfin:
The member countries have asked the Commission to negotiate reliable contracts in order to avoid risks to people.
Then you can't expect it to be finished before everyone else.
Sure, the UK started vaccinating earlier - but is also liable for vaccine damage, which hopefully will not happen but could.
That was the main reason why the EU negotiations took longer.
Here the liability rests primarily with the manufacturers, which Biontech's American partner Pfizer in particular has long resisted.
SPIEGEL:
How do you know how good the EU's deals are in this regard?
The Commission is keeping the treaties a secret.
It only vaguely indicated that there had been a compromise with the manufacturers on liability.
What he looks like is unknown.
Canfin:
Right, we absolutely need transparency at this point.
Whether manufacturers or taxpayers are liable for damage must not remain in the dark.
The same applies to the question of how expensive the vaccines really are and when exactly what quantities should be delivered.
It is unacceptable that this is not published.
Together with many other MEPs, I have been calling for more transparency since September.
Fighting fake news and building trust among the population is an absolute priority.
SPIEGEL:
Monitoring the EU Commission is one of the tasks of the European Parliament - and you head the Committee on Environment and Public Health there.
How do you intend to get the Commission to be more open?
Canfin:
There will be a hearing in Parliament next week with Sandra Gallina, who is leading the negotiations for the EU.
She will have to answer our questions - including when the vaccines will be delivered.
This is one of the most important issues for citizens.
SPIEGEL:
What if the MPs are not satisfied?
Members of their own parliamentary group - such as Nicola Beer and Andreas Glück from the FDP - are also calling for an investigative committee to be set up in this case.
Canfin:
You set up a committee of inquiry when something really goes wrong.
So far, I have no evidence of this as the contracts are still confidential.
What I want is transparency for everyone.
SPIEGEL:
Another reason for the long duration of the negotiations was that the Commission did not speak to the manufacturers alone, but that the member states had a say in every phase.
Was that a good idea?
Canfin:
You have to see where we were last spring: the EU had no public health competence.
The fact that member countries teamed up with the Commission to procure vaccines was a huge step forward.
SPIEGEL:
In Germany, some see it differently.
They say the federal government should single-handedly have bought more vaccine as its main responsibility is to protect the German population.
"There is no evidence that the French government ever tried to prevent a contract with Biontech"
Canfin:
In an integrated "space" like the EU, cooperation makes us stronger.
It is irresponsible that some politicians - for example from the SPD in Germany and the Republicans in France - are calling for national orders that violate the European framework.
That would mean higher prices, less solidarity, and no public health benefit.
Because a national order would mean negotiating a new contract.
The additional vaccines would likely be late.
The best way is to increase joint procurement, as the Commission did on Friday.
SPIEGEL:
You also hear of sometimes heated arguments among the states.
The federal government, for example, has accused Paris of trying to get through negotiations to buy no less from the French manufacturer Sanofi than from the German company Biontech.
Canfin:
There's no evidence that the French government ever tried to prevent a deal with Biontech or to get Biontech to buy less.
Of course, governments always have a certain preference for companies in their own country, that's quite normal.
The red line is where there is damage to the entire project.
And it was never exceeded.
SPIEGEL:
The number of people vaccinated is currently diverging sharply in countries such as the Netherlands, France and Germany.
Do you fear that this will mean that borders will be closed again?
Canfin:
No.
I expect countries to learn from each other and the speed of vaccinations to converge by February at the latest.
Incidentally, the EU ordered the vaccines in good time, the distribution is now entirely in the hands of the member states.
And what do we see?
Chaos.
Now imagine what would have happened if all 27 EU countries had negotiated individually with the vaccine manufacturers, concluded different contracts and started vaccinations at different times.
The chaos would be even bigger.
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