A Belgian court issued an order on April 1, 2026 that obliges the governments of Poland and Romania to pay Pfizer for 1.9 billion euros ($2.2 billion) worth of COVID‑19 vaccines that were part of the European Union’s joint procurement program.
Poland was ordered to pay approximately 1.3 billion euros, while Romania was ordered to pay about 600 million euros. The vaccines were originally contracted in 2021 as part of the EU’s effort to secure supplies during the pandemic, and Pfizer had filed lawsuits in 2023 to enforce the contracts after the two countries stopped purchasing additional doses in 2022.
Poland and Romania cited a surplus of stock, reduced vaccine effectiveness against new variants, budgetary constraints linked to the war in Ukraine, and alleged abuse of Pfizer’s dominant market position as reasons for refusing delivery. The court rejected these arguments, finding that the decline in infections and the conflict did not meet the contractual conditions for termination, and that the countries failed to prove any abuse of market power.
The ruling highlights the binding nature of EU joint procurement contracts and feeds into the broader “Pfizergate” debate over transparency in negotiations between the European Commission and Pfizer. While the court focused on contract enforcement, the case underscores ongoing concerns about how vaccine procurement was conducted and documented.
The order is from a court of first instance and is subject to appeal. If upheld, the decision will reinforce Pfizer’s contractual rights and could influence how other EU member states approach similar disputes. The ruling also represents a significant legal victory for Pfizer, affirming the company’s position that the procurement contracts remain enforceable despite changing pandemic conditions.
The financial impact for Pfizer is notable: the 1.9 billion‑euro award represents a sizable portion of the company’s COVID‑19 vaccine revenue, and the court’s decision may affect future negotiations and the company’s revenue projections for the remainder of the year.
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