On Friday, 29 April, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė sent a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with a request to commence talks with Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers about flexible supply conditions.
In the letter Baltic PMs are grateful to the European Commission and personally Ursula von der Leyen for what was done to ensure EU member states receive Covid-19 vaccines and are able to implement vaccination campaigns.
Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian PMs mentioned in the letter that member states have new challenges to face – this time with overproduction of Covid-19 vaccines.
Supplies of vaccines to member states will continue in spite of reduced demand. On top of that, there have been cases of vaccines with shorter validity terms being supplied.
Considering that the European Commission signed supply contracts with Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers on behalf of EU member states, Baltic prime ministers invite the European Commission to commence talks with manufacturers together with EU member states to change terms of supplies of vaccines.
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Baltic prime ministers also invite the European Commission to be more actively involved in coordination of member states’ vaccine donations. The European Commission should also enhance cooperation with the global vaccine alliance GAVI to support member states’ vaccine donations using COVAX.