Releasing the document, EU spokesman Eric Mamer said it would show that the contract covers AstraZeneca plants in the UK and that “these plants will contribute to the effort ... to deliver doses to the European Union”.
According to German broadcaster ZDF, AstraZeneca committed to delivering 30-40 million doses by the end of 2020, and 80-100 million doses in the first quarter of 2021.
AstraZeneca’s CEO Pascal Soriot argued in a media interview this week that deliveries of vaccine in Europe had been slowed because of glitches in its Belgian plant.
Britain, meanwhile, had signed its contract three months earlier than Brussels had and the firm used the time to resolve production problems and launch deliveries.
But the Europe Commission reacted angrily, insisting that its contract does not stipulate that Britain production be reserved for UK deliveries and that it was for the firm to meet its commitments.
Mamer said that the previously confidential contract would prove that AstraZeneca had signed up for a clear delivery schedule and not simply to make its “best efforts” to serve the EU contract.
“So in our mind, there is absolutely no doubt that we have a firm commitment with the company and as with all other companies to deliver doses according to specific schedules,” Mamer said.
The full contract is available on the Commission’s website.
