The EU has failed to take action against AstraZeneca due to vaccination delays

The European Commission has lost its license to compel AstraZeneca to pay millions for its Covid-19 vaccine or pay a hefty fine.

AstraZeneca was originally expected to contribute 300m to the EU in the first six months of this year but the show was cut to 100m only when problems arose. The commission wanted a judge in Brussels to order the company to increase the figure to 120m, with a fine of € 10 per day per day for any needs – penalties that could have reached billions of euros.

But, according to AstraZeneca, the court ordered it to pay 10m more than it had already submitted – a total of 80m, by September – which could be completed by the end of June.

Both parties have won foreign lawsuits, with AstraZeneca saying it was happy with the court’s order, and the Commission said it was convinced.

AstraZeneca says it hopes to resume its partnership with the Commission. Jeffrey Pott, AstraZeneca’s attorney general, said: “AstraZeneca has fully complied with its commitment to the European Commission and we will continue to focus on the urgent work of providing effective vaccines, which we are providing in vain to protect people in Europe and around the world from deadly plagues. in every generation. ”

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, also cited the ruling as a victory.

“The ruling confirms what the Commission did: AstraZeneca did not live up to its commitments. It is good to see that an independent judge is proving this,” he said.