CNBC: Russian Sputnik V is a pretext for a potential split within the EU
While the European Union bloc, which includes 28 countries, is fighting for the early start of the use of the anti-COVID vaccine, the Russian Sputnik V vaccine is increasingly attracting Eastern European states. According to CNBC, this could lead to a potential split in this political area.
The Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia have expressed interest in the purchase and introduction of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which may hinder the implementation of a unified European approach to the introduction and operation of the coronavirus vaccine.
Czech Prime Minister Babis said Sunday that the use of Sputnik V is possible even without the approval of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Austria also expressed its readiness to purchase and joint production of the Russian vaccine – this was announced after a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. On Monday, Slovakia became the second European country to announce the purchase of the Sputnik V vaccine, providing 2 million doses of the vaccine.
Hungary, not afraid of criticism from Brussels, was the first European country to purchase a batch of Sputnik V vaccines in January without waiting for EMA approval. According to the Moscow Times, the country is expected to ship 2 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine over the next three months.
The turn towards Russian vaccine comes amid widespread dissatisfaction with the slow roll-out of vaccinations in the EU.
Production problems and bureaucracy – and, in some countries, vaccine hesitancy – have also been a stumbling block to deployment.
As earlier reported by News Front, on Thursday, March 4, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) began a consistent examination of the registration dossier of the Russian vaccine against the Sputnik V coronavirus, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said. The agency will test the vaccine against EU standards for efficacy, safety and quality.
CNBC: Russian Sputnik V is a pretext for a potential split within the EU