The intention of the United States to release patents for vaccines has sparked debate in the European Union. The EU insists that the solution is to increase production. From France, for example, they assure that it is a priority to end export limits, reform factories and increase production.
The French president advocates creating an international framework that allows access to vaccines to the poorest countries. However, this negotiation could last for months, so the priority must be to increase vaccine production and ensure export to ensure global distribution of vaccines.
Brussels has insisted that its commitment to global vaccine distribution is not an extraordinary situation. Both the 27 individually and the Union have contributed several billion euros to Covax, the instrument of the United Nations Organization that aims to ensure that doses also reach low and middle-income countries.
In a hypothetical negotiation in the World Trade Organization, it would be the Commission that would represent the EU since in trade, the exclusive competence belongs to the Union.