"EU Prepares Lawsuit Against AstraZeneca... Likely to Hold Responsible for Supply Delays"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The European Union (EU) Commission is reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit against AstraZeneca over delays in the supply of COVID-19 vaccines.

On the 21st (local time), the U.S. political media outlet Politico cited EU officials, reporting that "at a meeting held by the EU Commission on this day, representatives from multiple member states expressed support for filing a lawsuit against AstraZeneca for failing to meet the supply deadlines." According to a diplomat, the main purpose of this lawsuit is to pressure AstraZeneca to supply the contracted quantities to the EU.

Previously, AstraZeneca had contracted to supply 100 million doses of the vaccine to the EU by the first quarter of this year but delivered only 30 million doses. This caused a severe vaccine shortage within EU member states, intensifying the controversy. AstraZeneca initially agreed with the EU to supply a total of 300 million doses by the second quarter, but it is now expected to deliver only one-third of that amount, 100 million doses.

The EU has also hinted at the possibility of not signing additional contracts with AstraZeneca in the second half of this year, applying pressure on the supply volume. Earlier, Thierry Breton, the EU Commissioner for Internal Market, appeared on French television on the 18th and stated that the vaccine contract between AstraZeneca and the EU ends on June 30, suggesting that there is also a possibility of no further contracts.