Berlin (AFP)
Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel expressed their support for the European Commission's anti-Covid vaccine supply strategy on Friday, despite criticism and delays.
"I fully support the European approach that we have had", declared the French Head of State during a joint press conference with the Chancellor.
"What would we say today if France and Germany were in competition on vaccines?", Underlined Mr. Macron.
"It would be counterproductive."
The basic decision to command together was and remains "the right one", added Angela Merkel during the conference held at the end of a Franco-German defense and security council.
But we had to recognize "that the production capacities are not as big as we imagined", she underlined.
"What we must prepare now are acquisitions and additional production of vaccines on our soil," added Mr. Macron.
The European Commission, which has negotiated pre-orders for anti-Covid vaccines on behalf of the Twenty-Seven, has been hit by heavy fire of criticism following delays in the vaccination campaign.
Europe currently has a lower vaccination record than that of the United Kingdom, where supporters of Brexit see it as confirmation of the merits for the country to have left the EU.
© 2021 AFP