Question for written answer E-000447/2021 to the Commission Rule 138 (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), Giuseppe Ferrandino (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), (S&D), Simona Bonafè (S&D)

Subject: Limits on the supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses

Despite efforts to combat it, coronavirus continues to spread in the EU and around the world.

Developing vaccines and launching vaccination campaigns are the way to put an end to the pandemic and its devastating health, social and economic consequences.

As it stands, pharmaceutical companies seem to be unable, in terms of both timeframes and quantities, to keep to the commitments they gave to provide enough vaccine doses for the population of Europe.

In the light of the above:

1. Does the Commission believe, taking into account Article 1 of the Treaty on European Union, that it has been as open as possible about contracts with regard to transparency and publicity, protecting commercially sensitive data but also providing citizens with the information they need about the essential terms of the vaccine contracts?

2. Has it checked or does it plan to check the conditions for adopting compulsory licensing schemes with a view to both upholding patent prerogatives and guaranteeing adequate production capacity for all European needs?

3. To ensure that Member States are and will continue to be self-sufficient with regard to essential health care, does it intend to promote new production routes for them, using incentives and support, among other methods? Will it promote arrangements and agreements internationally to ensure that the vaccines, a universal common good, are produced in sufficient quantities for a global approach to this challenge?

PE681.206v01-00