Mr. Thierry Breton:

On solidarity, I reiterate that we are the first group in COVAX. We can be proud of that, but in a more selfish way it is also in our interest. It is not enough but we are the only one using our own production to donate significantly to COVAX. Of course, there are other donors but we are already exporting vaccines to more than 150 countries either through the COVAX instrument or directly. We do our fair share without putting the EU vaccination strategy in danger. It is in the ramping-up phase.

I have had a lot of discussions with my counterpart in the US. The EU is doing this alone and we will be very pleased when the US rejoins. It is to be hoped that will be soon because it is a big task but we have to do it.

We ordered 200 million doses which we hope to have in the second quarter. We expect to deliver between 800 million to 1 billion doses in the second half of the year.

Of course, we may not need all of that supply. We may need part of it for the variants. Companies are already working on a specific booster, if it is needed. We will also have other doses and, as I mentioned, member states will be part owners of those doses. Those member states will have the ability to do what they want with those doses, and that includes donating them. This is an important topic and we will have to discuss it further in the second half of the year, but I am totally with the Deputy. This is a joint fight. We hope that before the end of the summer, the US and Europe will have vaccinated their adult populations. Europe represents only 10% of the population of the planet. That is why it is extremely important.

On the question on AstraZeneca, I cannot comment because we are in a legal proceeding. I can tell the Deputy AstraZeneca has committed to deliver 70 million doses in quarter 2. A big part of that total is coming from European factories. AstraZeneca also wants to use the worldwide supply chain. I have no doubt that AstraZeneca is making its best efforts to achieve delivery of 70 million vaccines. As I said at the beginning, thanks to the additional 50 million doses coming from Pfizer that we did not expect, we can have a level of comfort. I worked in industry before I became a Commissioner and can tell the committee that, of course, nothing is certain, especially in the vaccine industry. However, we can have a level of comfort about the fact that we will be able to deliver the number of doses needed to achieve the mid-July target.

The Deputy also asked about the digital green certificate. It is important to note the certificate is not a passport. It is to simplify schedules. Its use will be limited to the time of the pandemic. It will have simple information and will be totally protected because the general data protection regulation, GDPR, is mandatory and there is absolutely no reason the data will be used for other reasons. It will, of course, be in the hands of member states. We want to have exactly the same procedures and format across EU member states. If citizens of member states are asked for the certificate should they want to go to another country and if someone is travelling by aeroplane, it is easier to have the certificate and it will facilitate boarding. The certificate will not be mandatory so if an EU citizen does not have a certificate, an airline company may require a PCR test, as they do today. This tool could be used or it could be on paper. If a passenger does not have a PCR test, an airline company may ask him or her to undergo a rapid test, or whatever. It will definitely be a tool, although it will not be mandatory. The certificate regime will be in the hands of the member states to decide what they want to do with it. We know that it will be an extremely important tool to allow our fellow citizens to travel more safely and freely. There is €30 million in my portfolio to help member states to develop this certificate, if necessary. We also have a technical team and if it is necessary, we can put the team at the disposal of some member states when required because our target is to be ready by the end of June. There will be no exchange of personal data. There will be a certified and secure QR code.