04/26/2021 11:25 AM
Clarín.com
World
Updated 04/26/2021 11:25 AM
The European Commission announced this Monday that it took legal action against the biopharmaceutical AstraZeneca for
failing
to
fulfill its commitment
to deliver the contracted doses of its coronavirus vaccine to the member states.
AstraZeneca, for its part, assured that it has "completely complied with" the agreement for the sale of vaccines against COVID-19 with the European Commission (EC) and that, therefore, it will
"defend itself strongly" in court,
after being denounced by the community authorities before the Belgian Justice.
"AstraZeneca has fully complied with the Advance Purchase Agreement with the European Commission and will defend itself vigorously in court. We believe that
any litigation is unfounded
and we welcome this opportunity to resolve this dispute as soon as possible," the company said in a statement.
A group of workers packing doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.
Photo: AP
The EC's claim arises because it considers that it has not respected "some terms of the contract" and that it "has not been in a position to provide a reliable strategy to guarantee delivery of the doses."
The Community Executive had made it known that it was consulting with the Member States about its intention to bring the dispute with AstraZeneca to justice.
The initial agreement
The pharmaceutical company contract with the European Union provided for the
initial distribution of 300 million doses
among the 27 member countries, with an option for another 100 million.
But only 30 million doses were delivered in the first quarter of 2021, and the company says it
can
only
deliver 70 million in the second quarter,
instead of the 180 million it had promised.
AstraZeneca's problems in complying with the distributions stipulated in the contract with the EU have confronted the company with the European Commission for months.
A health worker gives an AstraZeneca vaccine to a woman in Bucharest.
Photo: AP
This situation prompted Brussels to send a letter to AstraZeneca to
initiate an amicable
dispute resolution
procedure
.
After verifying that this intermediate step did not facilitate a solution, the Community Executive made the decision to refer the matter to the Belgian Justice.
In its note, the pharmaceutical company assured that it is about to reach the
shipment of almost 50 million
doses to the EU countries before the end of April, "in line - it adds - with our forecasts."
He recalls that vaccines "are difficult to manufacture, as has been made clear by the supply challenges faced by various companies in Europe and around the world."
It also stresses that they are making "progress addressing the technical challenges" they face and that their production is improving, although "the production cycle of a vaccine is very long, which implies that it takes time for these improvements to result in a increase in doses of finished vaccines ".
"There is a lot of work ahead in the European Union (EU) and elsewhere as we continue to deal with the dire pandemic and the spread of vaccination programs.
AstraZeneca has an important role to play
, and our intention continues to be to do so as fair and equitable manner without benefit during the pandemic in the EU and around the world, "the pharmaceutical company clarified.
In the statement, it was also recalled that
the EU has supported the COVAX program
for equitable distribution of vaccines to low- and middle-income countries, and that the Anglo-Swedish firm is the leading provider for more than 100 countries.
AstraZeneca also expressed its desire to "work constructively with the EU Commission to vaccinate as many people as possible".
"Many thousands of our employees who work around the clock have been motivated by a passion to help the world without profit; they remain firmly
committed to providing our vaccine
to the people of Europe and around the world," the company notes.
Source: agencies