Vaccines: The European Union wants to guarantee the import of its US components

Brussels | EU sources said on Saturday that the European Union would begin talks with the United States on Monday to provide the best guarantee for the US supply of COVID vaccines, which Washington is subject to strict export restrictions.

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Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Domestic Markets responsible for the industrial aspects of vaccine production, will meet with Jeffrey Gents, co-ordinator of the team responsible for the fight against COVID-19, at the White House on Monday afternoon. Discussions told AFP.

He explained that the idea was for European vaccine manufacturers to “work in a coordinated manner without causing any disruption.”

Relevant components include bags intended for quets (manufactured in the EU by US companies or European companies in the United States), but also contain nanolipids required for messenger RNA vaccines, vials or syringes.

Washington strictly oversees the export of all components required for vaccines, subject to specific approvals.

For its part, the EU uses its export control mechanism only for ready-to-use vaccines, as it did on the initiative of Italy, by blocking the target of 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca to Australia.

The British-Swedish laboratory announced that it could deliver only one-third of the promised quantities of twenty-seven in the first quarter.

“Everyone has their own rules, and they are legitimate. The idea is not to re-discuss them, but to explore the” administrative procedures used “for the export of components and to see how to” simplify and expedite them “underscores the European source.

“It simply came to our notice then. At a time when vaccine production in Europe is increasing significantly, we want to ensure that all components are compliant, ”he explains.

This discussion is not intended to “negotiate quantities” with Americans, which is a “corporate responsibility” approach, the same source said.

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