EU Preparing to Launch Legal Battle Against AstraZeneca After Vaccine Cuts
The European Commission is preparing legal proceedings against British vaccine developer AstraZeneca for cutting COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the European Union, Reuters reported April 22. The cut in vaccine deliveries prompted major delays in the bloc's vaccine rollout and the imposition of an export control regime on vaccines. Two diplomats told Reuters that the legal challenge was discussed April 21 at a meeting with EU officials, and most states present indicated support for the proceedings. However, no decision has yet been made, a commission spokesperson told a news conference.
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The EU sent a letter to AstraZeneca in March in the first step of a legal challenge, but the deadline for a reply expired in April. While not public, the letter's details said the bloc was seeking clarification on what it considered a delayed application to European regulators for approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Reuters reported. AZ held a contract with the EU pledging 300 million vaccine doses from December to June, but the company announced March 12 that it would aim to deliver only one-third of that mark.