Don’t quote, don’t trust, original here, my comments in brackets, spokesperson Eric Mamer.
Announcement from Johannes. Good news. [Hooray!]
Johannes: We adopted a work programme for the European research council. [Oh drat. I expected free chocolates for all]
Eric Mamer: Also, informal fisheries press conference, for 12:15. [THE EXCITEMENT NEVER STOPS]
Mamer: also FA council later. [That might actually be interesting]
Q&A. [here’s where the fun begin]
VACCINES
Naomi: factors for allowing quicker vaccination programme? June vaccination date [I think for Denmark] versus 27 September difference, why?]
Stefan: I’m not in a position to give comments on what individual MS are doing we deadlines. Up to MS to meet [vaccination] targets.
Mamer: stay on issue of vaccines.
Naomi: re Denmark, have other MS taken up Pfizer vaccines? Also, who’s doing one-shot vaccine strategies?
Stefan: can’t go into what individual MS have done.
Tony: question not on vaccines.
Mamer: no, no, no!
Verena: original pricing that Pfizer asked from EC last summer. Wanted 55 euro per dose [sunsabitches]. Also, you tweeted last night about VDL talking to [drug guy?]. What was that about?
Mamer: the phone call yesterday was about announcement earlier in the week about the HERA incubator initiative. Phone call with [drug guy] to make sure we can kick-start initiative. Re price discussion, the EC has an excellent relationship with BioNTech / Pfizer. The issue of price was but one of many dimensions of the discussions we had, other more important discussions, such as about issue of liability.
Verena, follow-up: comment on that price? Was it the price they asked for? How did the negotiations go that the EU ended up paying less?
Mamer: never, ever, EVER commented on negotiations. This debate does not originate in the EC. We had a negotiation process [etc]. We’re not going into the details re initial proposals.
Tommaso: La Republicca interviewed ‘legitimate pharmaceutical broker’ [sounds sketchy], he had deal to provide vaccines to Italian authorities, could get vaccines via intermediary from AZ, those vaccines produced in European manufacturing plant for AZ [whole thing sound even sketchier], can you tell us something about this? [going to guess, uh, ‘no’, uh, ‘wut’?]
Mamer: give the floor to Myriam [how you like these apples, Myriam]
Myriam: 103 requests for exports, something like 50 approved, we know where these vaccines are going.
Mamer: also, Stefan [some apples for you]
Stefan: would like to stress, please be careful with these things, you have no idea what’s in the vial. [‘legitimate pharmaceutical broker’ sounds like a crack dealer to me]
Mamer: without questioning legitimacy of person quoted, of course.
Tommaso, follow-up: is AZ allowed to sell vaccines produced [in EU] to outside EU countries?
Mamer: they can apply for export authorisation. Since 30 January, companies can apply for export authorisation, but they could export before, without having to request an authorisation.
Joe: reports from MS that people turning down being injected by AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Politicians questioning AZ vaccines. German gov’t today tell people that AZ vaccine safe. Does the EC regret that politicians saying these things [as if an answer is possible] Also, EC position on anti-vaxers]
Stefan: EC and MS insisted on EMA accessing safety of vaccines in vaccine strategy. EMA has stated that AZ is safe and effective. We have to convince EU citizens that vaccines safe and effective, must show that EMA has done a very throughly assessment of vaccines. Something done from the beginning. MS and EC continue to inform citizens of importance of vaccination.
Joe: would EC consider publicising EC commissioners getting jabbed with AZ?
Mamer: EC will follow Belgian vaccination campaign [God help us].
Angela: are you aware that by selling stocks of vaccines to third companies, the pharmaceutical companies can sell to third states, breaching EU strategies on vaccines? [Goodfellas approach: ‘Yo, I gotta see a guy about a dog about a vaccine’] A breach in European approach. Problem the price? Fact that EC agreed on a certain price at the beginning when contracts signed, but companies now can sell at a higher price to regions?
Mamer: we aren’t aware of individual countries or region having bought vaccines like that.
Stefan: yes we aren’t aware of that. [black market dangerous]
Angela: it’s not working for the black market, it’s working for actual pharmaceutical companies. Investigate?
Stefan: must ensure that our contracts with companies deliver doses to MS.
James: superior safety procedures that EU has gone through. Do you see any connection between district of AZ vaccines and Mr Macron’s and VDL’s comments?
Mamer: no we don’t, once a vaccine approved by EMA, definitely can be and sure be used.
Verena: EMA recommended AZ vaccine without age limit, but then MS created their own age limits of 55 or 65, did that undermine trust? Efforts to make a common line behind EMA recommendation?
Stefan: yes, what’s important for EMA, to check and assess safety of vaccine, but MS have competence for own vaccination policies. [Big fat Greek wedding: ‘Tell me what to do. But don’t tell me what to do’]
Nick: on this AZ thing, in Germany, take up only around 17 per cent of that jab. Can EU make 70 percent by September? Could you use other vaccines if that [goal] not met? Will you give AZ jabs to other countries?
Stefan: 70 per cent an ambitious but achievable target. We can reach this target. Not just a matter of timely delivery, but how MS handle it.
Mamer: we close now the health chapter. Tony?
Northern Ireland
Tony: response to Unionist decision to take legal action against the protocol on Northern Ireland?
Daniel: we’re fully committed to the Good Friday Belfast agreement and the protocol. Stability, avoiding hard border, minimising impact of Brexit. 11 February statement, underlines full implementation of protocol.
Mamer: other Brexit questions? No. Hello. Active mic and camera but no journalist. First time we’ve had that.
[?] : attached on UN convey in Congo. First reports, two Italian victims, EC official injured. Any info?
Mamer: pass the floor to Nabila.
Nabila: we’ve seen reports of convey attack. Death of ambassador of Italy. Worrying, following situation closely. Condolences to UN, Italy, and Congo.
Mamer: being shared in FA meeting also .
Lukasz: Belarus question?
Mamer: no, nothing on FAC agenda. Address your questions at later press conference.
[?]: Turkish trade minister call. Who requested call re customs union.
Ana: I’m not in a position to say anything, don’t comment on phone calls that haven’t taken place yet.
Ragner [bad background noise]: fishing. EU issued licenses for crab in Norway [I think]. Any fishing that exceeds quota regarded that illegal. Spokesperson for fishing commission seemed to challenge Norway sovereignty last week. EU believes Norway violating the [‘snow-crab’?] treaty. If Norwegian Coast Guard arrests EU fishing boat, how will the EU react? You weakening Norwegian sovereignty?
Mamer: we have a fisheries council press conference going on, you talk to them.
Lukasz: transport. On Friday EC published impact assessment on mobility package. Two provisions could result in more CO2 emissions, and other emissions. So issue could affect our climate and health. So how it is possible that such legislation that’s against climate strategy could be approved by European parliament? Are you disappointed? Is your plan to fix it?
Mamer: we’ve commented on this many many times.
Stefan: we have seen the results of these studies commissioned to assess effects of 2 provisions in the mobility package. We are obviously open to discussion with MS and the EP and all concerned parties to see the possible ways forward based on these studies, we want an open dialogue re next steps and Green Deal objectives.
Lukasz, follow-up: could you present new draft, new legislation?Mamer: legislation just approved, Stefan explained what we’re doing [in reaction to this legislation.]