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 The move could allow EU governments to secure vaccines from
companies that are not negotiating with Brussels, such as U.S. firms
Merck, Inovio and Novavax. They are all in talks with the WHO
scheme, dubbed COVAX, but have so far not been reported to be
involved in negotiations with the EU Commission.
EU states have committed not to enter into parallel negotiations
with the same vaccine manufacturers with which talks are ongoing at
EU level, but this "does not exclude the possibility to take part in
negotiations with other vaccine companies through COVAX," an EU
Commission spokesman said.
That would represent a change of policy after the EU executive had
advised the 27 EU governments not to purchase vaccines through the
WHO scheme deeming it slow, expensive and legally incompatible with
the parallel EU procurement programme, EU officials said in July.
The apparent change came after the WHO softened in August the terms
for rich countries to join its scheme, which aims to secure 2
billion doses for the 20% of the world's most vulnerable people by
the end of 2021.
It also followed criticism that the EU was effectively undermining
the WHO initiative, despite projecting itself as a champion of
multilateralism and as a supporter of equitable access to vaccines
for all.
By forcing EU states to buy only through an EU scheme, the
Commission could reduce the limited amount of doses initially
available to less developed countries, because it would prioritise
the 450 million EU citizens, effectively replicating nationalist
policies of the United States and other countries critical of the
WHO initiative.
The EU has so far reached an advance purchase deal on COVID-19
vaccines with AstraZeneca, and has said it is in talks with Johnson
& Johnson, Sanofi, Moderna and CureVac.
EU officials told Reuters in July the bloc was also talking with
Pfizer and BionTech for the shot they are developing together.
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NOT SO CLEAR
Under a confidential agreement seen by Reuters, EU states have committed not to
start negotiations for upfront purchases of vaccines with companies which are
already in talks with the EU.
They are also allowed to conduct parallel talks if they decide to opt-out from
deals signed by the EU Commission.
The interpretation that the EU Commission had so far given to this clause was
strict. It may have now agreed to a softer stance.
It remains unclear whether EU states will actually buy through COVAX, as this
could result in higher costs, a European official involved in talks told
Reuters.
When Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands signed a preliminary deal with
AstraZeneca in June over its potential vaccine, many EU governments complained
of having been sidetracked, even if they were in theory offered access to doses.
Asked what would happen if the Commission started talks with a vaccine maker
after an EU government had already began talks with it through COVAX, an EU
Commission spokesman did not comment.
So far the EU Commission has committed 400 million euros ($475 million) in
guarantees to COVAX but has also said the terms of its involvement were still
under negotiation.
It is also openly saying that it would donate to poorer countries surplus
vaccines that it acquires through its scheme, in what seems to replicate COVAX's
core function.
($1 = 0.84 euros)
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; additional reporting by Andreas
Rinke, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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