Europe plans to become world’s biggest vaccine producer by summer, Macron says

In the next few months, Europe plans to become the continent that produces the biggest number of anti-coronavirus vaccines, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters after the first day of the online EU summit on Thursday.

"By this summer, Europe will become the continent that produces the biggest number of [anti-coronavirus] vaccines," he said.

The French leader admitted that Europe was behind certain regions of the world in terms of vaccinating its population, but "this gap has been closed by now."

"Europe will be able to produces sufficient doses to ensure collective immunity on its territory," he said. "Europe is the only continent having its own strategy and its own diplomacy regarding vaccines."

In his words, the sector of vaccinations is witnessing "a world war of a new type."

"We are witnessing destabilization attempts by Russa and China, the desire to exert influence with the help of vaccines. Against this background, we would like to produce enough vaccines to meet our needs," Macron added.