The European Commission expects the timely delivery of previously agreed quantities of vaccines from the British-Swedish AstraZeneca company and an explanation on Monday for the announced reduction in quantities to be delivered.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with AstraZeneca’s CEO over the phone today and recalled that the EU expects the timely delivery of the vaccine in the quantities agreed, EC spokesman Eric Mamer said.

Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides sent a letter to AstraZeneca on Sunday asking for an explanation of an announced reduction in the delivery of the vaccine.

Ursula von der Leyen recalled that the EU had secured significant funds for the development of the vaccine, Mamer added.

Last week AstraZeneca advised the Commission of a reduction of 60% of the vaccine to be delivered in the first quarter of the year to 31 million doses instead of the 80 million agreed.

The Commission expects a response during a meeting between AstraZeneca, the Commission and EU member states.

The European Medicines Agency is expected to approve AstraZeneca’s vaccine on Friday. However, that news was overshadowed by the announcement that a reduced quantity of the vaccine would be available.

The Pfizer pharmaceutical company, whose vaccine was the first to be approved in the EU, had earlier announced that it was running late in delivering the vaccine.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said today that it was possible that the EU would jointly sue the pharmaceutical companies if they do not meet the agreed terms for delivery.

“Some individual countries are paying a higher price per dose than the EU paid. That is something that is happening outside of what was agreed and we will insist on contracts being adhered to,” said Plenkovic.