EU Files Another Lawsuit Against AZ Over Vaccine Supply Delays

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The European Union (EU) executive body, the European Commission, has filed a lawsuit against AstraZeneca (AZ) over delays in vaccine supply.

On the 11th (local time), the EU Commission's lawyer demanded in a hearing at a Belgian court that the company deliver at least 120 million doses of the vaccine by the end of next month.

The EU Commission filed its first lawsuit against AstraZeneca at the end of April, demanding that COVID-19 vaccines produced at the company's factory in the UK be immediately delivered to the EU.

Foreign media reported that this second lawsuit could lead to fines against AstraZeneca.

The purpose of this lawsuit is to ensure that vaccines are delivered according to the contract, but if fines help enforce contractual obligations, they may be requested, said an EU Commission spokesperson.

The EU Commission and AstraZeneca have been in conflict over vaccine supply delays since early this year.