> However, you can also see it as the EU has no real power at all and is just an easy target to get fooled over by other countries..
the position it finds itself in is entirely a result of its inability to competently and promptly negotiate contracts with its suppliers
it was entirely focused on price instead of delivery, and it took months more than the suppliers other customers (e.g. the UK) to agree anything
none of this is surprising behavior for an organisation that is primarily a producer's cartel
the mistake was putting such an organisation in charge of the procurement in the first place
the other outrageous fact is that France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands (the "Inclusive Vaccine Alliance") had all but signed a deal back in June, then the EU commission forced itself into the process, spent three months trying to re-negotiate (for a product being produced at cost), then signed the original deal regardless
the position it finds itself in is entirely a result of its inability to competently and promptly negotiate contracts with its suppliers
it was entirely focused on price instead of delivery, and it took months more than the suppliers other customers (e.g. the UK) to agree anything
none of this is surprising behavior for an organisation that is primarily a producer's cartel
the mistake was putting such an organisation in charge of the procurement in the first place
the other outrageous fact is that France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands (the "Inclusive Vaccine Alliance") had all but signed a deal back in June, then the EU commission forced itself into the process, spent three months trying to re-negotiate (for a product being produced at cost), then signed the original deal regardless