EC spokesman Stefan de Keersmaeker also did not say what penalties the EU could face for releasing the information
The European Commission (EC) refuses any comment on the leaked confidential data on prices of new-type coronavirus vaccines for the European Union, which was mistakenly published on its Twitter page on Friday by a member of the Belgian government. This was stated by EC spokesman Stefan de Keersmaeker at a briefing in Brussels. He also declined to comment on what penalties the EU could face over the disclosure
“We are not in a position to comment on this issue. Everything to do with vaccine prices is protected by the principle of confidentiality. This is due, among other things, to our ongoing negotiations with other vaccine manufacturers. I am also unable to comment on any aspects of the contract, including confidentiality clauses, which are also confidential”, said De Keersmaeker.
Responding to a series of questions from journalists on the reasons for the complete lack of transparency on the issue of vaccine procurement for the EU, he said: ‘If price data is made public, it could damage the European Commission’s negotiating position in negotiations with other suppliers.
Earlier on Friday, Belgian Budget Secretary of State Eva De Bleeker mistakenly tweeted out a confidential table of prices for all six Western vaccines already contracted by the European Commission to European Union states. The official quickly realised her mistake and edited the tweet, but journalists managed to take screenshots, which have now been published by a number of Belgian media, in particular RTBF TV channel.