First assessment: what can the EU do for vaccines in Africa?

On its Thursday’s meeting, the Development Committee (DEVE) hold a debate on the access to coronavirus vaccines for developing countries. On behalf of the European Commission, Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for Development provided information on the current situation. In his speech, Hungarian Christian Democrat MEP György Hölvényi, DEVE Coordinator of the EPP Group emphasized, “Europe is also in trouble, but we have to know that the neighbouring continent, Africa, cannot solve the COVID-19 crisis without us”.

MEP Hölvényi said, “In the current situation, there is more uncertainty than facts. We can only act on a responsible way, if we do not make irrevocable promises. Taking into account of this responsibility, the available 16 billion EUR raised by the Commission in a donors’ conference, as mentioned in Jutta Urpilainen’s report, should be used with the utmost care”.

“Now it seems that there is only a very limited amount of vaccines available in Africa, like in Europe. In addition to that, the delivery of the vaccines and the lack of professionals required for proper vaccine administration are a huge challenge in developing countries”, explained the politician. MEP Hölvényi added, “In order to work effectively, it is essential that the EU, in close cooperation with partner countries, decides on the strategies to be applied in each country, by scaling up the existing local capacities much more accurately than before”. As the MEP emphasized, it is in the common interest of all stakeholders to maximize vaccine production capacity in Africa as opposed to the current “shortage management”.

In her reply to MEP Hölvényi, Commissioner Urpilainen promised a substantial increase in production capacity in Africa.