Pfizer freezes traffic control funds in Poland, Romania over vaccine dispute

An April 1, 2024 ruling by a Brussels court, applying Belgian law, ordered Poland to pay roughly $1.5 billion and Romania about $640 million, plus interest and fees, for additional COVID‑19 vaccine doses under a 2021 contract between the European Commission and Pfizer. Both countries had refused further deliveries in 2022, citing sharply reduced demand; Poland also pointed to the financial strain of hosting Ukrainian refugees.

After obtaining the judgment, Pfizer enforced it by freezing billions of dollars earmarked for air‑traffic‑control agencies in the two states. Eurocontrol, the intergovernmental body that coordinates European air navigation, notified the Polish and Romanian agencies that the funds were being held. The freeze has raised concerns about the financial stability of the agencies that rely on these payments to maintain safe flight operations.

Polish and Romanian authorities have announced plans to appeal the decision. Poland asked the Belgian court to postpone enforcement pending the appeal, but the request was denied. Legal observers have described Pfizer’s action as “outrageous and unethical,” while others note that the company is exercising a legal right under the contract, albeit in a manner deemed disproportionate by some experts.