On Thursday, the government authorized the Ministry of Finance to urgently hire an experienced legal company or firm to represent Romania in the case where Pfizer – BioNTech demands payment for all anti-covid vaccines purchased by our country as part of the contractual supply. the European Union agreement signed in 2021.

BioNTech-Pfizer vaccinePhoto: Chepa Beltran/VWPics/Sciencephoto/Profimedia

The Ministry of Finance will urgently hire a firm or law firm with relevant experience to defend the interests of Romania in the case registered under No. F5331-23, which is pending before the French-speaking Court of First Instance in Brussels, with a first hearing date of 20 February 2024.

At the same time, the legal structure in the Ministry of Finance will take over the activity of representing the state in all international legal disputes, including within the framework of the judicial file of the Kingdom of Belgium, which will clearly regulate this representation.

  • “The urgency of taking this measure is due to the very short period before the first court session, namely 20.02.2024, during which it is necessary to order legal assistance and representation services.
  • This task is undertaken by the Ministry of Finance, taking into account the fact that the Ministry of Health has not entered into any contract for the provision of legal assistance and representation either in national courts or in international jurisdictions, having no experience in contracting such services,” the Government’s press release states. state

Romania must pay Pfizer more than 2.78 billion lei plus court costs

Earlier this year, Romania received a summons from the French-speaking Court of First Instance in Brussels on 12/22/2023 in a case registered under No. F5331-23 brought by plaintiffs PFIZER Inc., BIONTECH Manufacturing GmbH, Pfizer. Romania SRL, the subject of which is the Contract for the purchase of vaccines against COVID-19, concluded between the contractor and the European Commission.

Thus, Romania is obliged to fulfill the sales contract by paying the price for the remaining 28.94 million vaccines it purchased, worth about 564 million euros, i.e. the payment to Pfizer Romania of 2.78 billion lei and the payment of court costs, related to the procedure, respectively 22,500 euros, the Government reports.