EU Could Seize Vaccine Production As 'All Options On Table'-VdL

In a punchy Q&A session following a statement on the EU's vaccine supply and green certificate (see 1158GMT bullet), Commission President Ursula von der Leyen goes on to confirm that 'all options are on the table' when it comes to securing vaccines for the EU. Comment comes after a journalist questioned whether the EU could invoke Art.122 on the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU to allow for the seizure of vaccine production and suspension of IP rights by the EU.

• The implication that the EU itself could seize private business operations and ride roughshod over intellectual property rights in an effort to broaden vaccine production and distribution is a major step for a bloc that has sought to paint itself as a destination for international investment.
• Says it is 'hard to explain' to EU citizens why the EU is exporting vaccines to vaccine producing countries while hardly any are coming into the EU itself.
• VdL also says that there is a 'seamless flow' of products for vaccines with the US, and that the EU's cause for concern is the UK.