EU, ASTRAZENECA ROW ESCALATES

The row over AstraZeneca's agreement to supply COVID-19 vaccines to the EU deepened on Wednesday, with the European Commission accusing the pharmaceutical giant of breaching a "binding commitment."

AstraZeneca has denied pulling out of a scheduled meeting with EU officials. The company says it plans to meet with EU officials later on Wednesday in Brussels, refuting earlier reports, according to a Euronews report.

The comments came after EU officials said the company had pulled out of the meeting to discuss delayed vaccine commitments to the bloc. The talks are scheduled to be the third in in as many days.

"We can confirm that AstraZeneca accepted an invitation earlier this morning to attend a meeting with the EC Steering Committee later today. Reports that this is not the case are inaccurate," AstraZeneca said in a statement provided to Euronews.

European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the EU had provided investment in return for a "binding commitment" to produce vaccines prior to regulatory approval.

"Not being able to ensure manufacturing capacity is against the letter and the spirit of our agreement," she told a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.

AstraZeneca denies breaching the terms of its contract with the EU, following the revelation that planned supplies are to be cut by 60% compared to levels it had agreed to aim for. It blames glitches in production.

The dispute highlights the tension over vaccine supplies as Europe struggles to roll out inoculation programmes against the coronavirus.

Separately, French firm Sanofi has pledged to help out with vaccine production by boosting distribution of vaccines made by rival producers Pfizer and BioNTech.

The EU is willing to publish its contract with AstraZeneca if the company agrees, said Euronews Brussels correspondent Shona Murray, quoting an EU source.

The source added that the EU expects the company to do the maximum possible to produce vaccine dosages as set out in the agreement. Plants outside the EU should be used to make up the shortfall.

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