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Court orders Astrazeneca to deliver vaccines

2021-06-22T13:43:19.826Z


When too little corona vaccine arrived, the EU Commission sued the British-Swedish manufacturer. Now the first judgment - which curiously both parties to the dispute celebrate as a success.


When too little corona vaccine arrived, the EU Commission sued the British-Swedish manufacturer.

Now the first judgment - which curiously both parties to the dispute celebrate as a success.

Brussels (dpa) - The EU Commission has achieved partial success in the legal dispute with Astrazeneca due to delayed deliveries of corona vaccine.

A Belgian court sentenced the manufacturer, under threat of fines, to deliver 50 million doses of vaccine to the European Union.

Despite the verdict, however, according to Astrazeneca, no more vaccine will come in the short term than planned anyway.

The company wants to implement the ruling, but is still lagging behind its original delivery commitments.

The verdict of the Brussels court of first instance was drafted in such a way that both the EU Commission and the manufacturer saw themselves as winners on Friday.

The EU Commission had sued Astrazeneca for delays in delivery.

Because in the first quarter only 30 million instead of 120 million vaccine doses from the manufacturer went to the 27 EU countries.

At the end of May, the Commission urged the urgent delivery of the remaining 90 million cans.

The court granted the EU 50 million doses from this demand and put in a detailed schedule until the end of September: By July 26, 9:00 a.m., Astrazeneca has to deliver 15 million doses or pay 10 euros for each missing dose. According to the court, another 20 million cans are due by August 23, with the same threat of punishment, and another 15 million cans by September 27.

However, the requirement for Astrazeneca to be represented is now largely out of date: 40 of the 50 million cans have already been delivered. The remaining amount of ten million will be reached or exceeded before the end of June. As a result, the deadline until the end of September is irrelevant and there is no risk of fines, the company said. All other demands of the EU Commission were rejected by the court.

The EU Commission confirmed that 40 million cans have been delivered since the start of the legal proceedings.

But she still saw the verdict as a success.

From the commission circles it was said that the court had found a breach of contract by the company.

The company did not make "all reasonable efforts" to deliver as promised.

A vaccine plant in Great Britain should have been used to fulfill the obligations towards the EU, EU representatives read from 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."

The ruling in the urgent procedure only relates to the first quarter from January to March.

However, Astrazeneca's backlogs continue into the second quarter.

The EU expected a total of 300 million cans in the first half of the year.

According to its own information, the company only manages around 100 million cans - including the amount now legally determined.

The legal dispute goes into the next round in September.

Then hearings on the main proceedings begin.

Astrazeneca's corona vaccine is considered highly effective and is used millions of times around the world.

However, it is associated with very rare cerebral vein thrombosis.

Some EU states have therefore restricted or even given up its use.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210618-99-52132 / 3

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-06-22

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