Despite Resignation Calls, EU Leader Focuses on Vaccine Procurement...Achievement of Two Years' Supply

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Despite Resignation Pressure Over AZ Supply Delays,
Called and Texted Pfizer CEO for a Month
Secured 1.8 Billion Doses...Influence of Vaccine Diplomacy

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission [Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Earlier this year, when AstraZeneca (AZ) notified the European Union (EU) of a reduction in its first-quarter supply, there was even public opinion in Europe calling for Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, to resign.

Despite this extreme situation, President von der Leyen did not back down and tenaciously engaged in personal diplomacy with Pfizer, achieving the remarkable feat of securing up to 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, according to The New York Times (NYT).

On the 28th (local time), the NYT reported that the background to the EU reaching the world's largest supply agreement with Pfizer was the effort of President von der Leyen.

In January, she exchanged phone calls and text messages with Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, throughout the month. The first contact between the heads of the EU and Pfizer was made to explain the background of Pfizer temporarily reducing its supply to the EU while improving its production facilities in Belgium.

At that time, the EU was even considering the card of 'banning the export of vaccines produced within Europe.' The intention was to prevent the UK and the US from monopolizing vaccines produced by their domestic pharmaceutical companies in Europe.

Contact with Pfizer CEO for a Month... Increased Influence in Vaccine Diplomacy

Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer [Photo by Reuters]

CEO Bourla said, "I have been in contact with several people including presidents, prime ministers, kings, and heads of international organizations, but especially with President von der Leyen, I built deep trust through discussions." He added, "She is specifically knowledgeable about variant viruses, which made the discussions even more interesting."

President von der Leyen stated, "The more I communicated with CEO Bourla, the more I thought Pfizer might have more vaccine surplus than expected," and "I felt hopeful that the EU could secure this."

With this contract, the EU became Pfizer's largest customer. The 1.8 billion doses to be supplied to the EU by 2023 are six times the amount Pfizer has supplied to the US so far (300 million doses). Major foreign media explained, "This is enough for the EU's 450 million population to be vaccinated over two years."

The EU can resell or donate the vaccines it receives. The NYT analyzed that the EU's influence in vaccine diplomacy has been strengthened. President von der Leyen said, "This contract enables the EU to help poor regions."

Legal Battle with AZ over 'Supply Delays' Unavoidable

EU-side lawyer
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Meanwhile, as the European Commission filed a lawsuit against AZ over vaccine supply issues, the first hearing was held at a court in Belgium on the same day. The EU's lawyer demanded, "Immediate delivery of vaccines produced at the factory in the UK."

The European Commission claims that AZ is not fulfilling its contractual obligations. However, AZ insists that it is complying with the agreement and that the matters the EU claims as obligations are not legally binding.

Both parties agreed to hold another hearing on the 26th of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.