2022 EU Industry Weeks – Conference on “Fostering EU-Korea Vaccine Cooperation”

Yesterday, in presence of H.E. Minister for Trade, Yeo Han-koo, and H.E. EU Ambassador to Korea, María Castillo-Fernandez, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea organised a conference entitled “Fostering EU-Korea Vaccine Cooperation”.

The conference, which was held on the occasion of the 2022 EU Industry Weeks, brought together policy-makers, private sector stakeholders, international organisations and industry federations to discuss means to further the EU-Korea bilateral vaccine collaboration in ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking beyond, the conference was also an opportunity to explore avenues for post-pandemic bilateral cooperation in the field of bio-technologies.

The event opened with welcome remarks by:

• Mr Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market, European Commission;

Commissioner Breton said: ‘Today’s event will help us build synergies around development and production of vaccines across the entire supply chain and it will help us fight not only the current pandemic, but also future health emergencies. As you see, my expectations are high.’

• H.E. Yeo Han-Ku, Minister for Trade, Republic of Korea.

Minister Yeo explained: ‘This conference has an important meaning as it is to follow-up the initiative of the Korea-EU Vaccine Global Partnership Business Forum held in Brussels last October by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Through the FTA concluded between Korea and the EU, tariffs on raw materials for vaccines have been abolished or reduced, and cooperation in the conformity assessment process as well as enhanced cooperation in customs procedures, intellectual property rights, and government procurement is possible. Korea and the EU are the best partners for expanding global production and supply and preparing for future pandemics.

Hopefully, this occasion leads to increased investment on vaccines and therapeutics between the two parties.’

• H.E. Kwon Deok-Cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea;

Minister Kwon added: ‘Today's Conference is meaningful as it provides an opportunity to discuss overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic by jointly building on the capabilities of both the public and private sectors in Korea and in the EU. Topics to be discussed include, expanding the global production of COVID-19 vaccines, fostering direct investment between both parties as well as cooperation in technology transfer.’

The European Commission, the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), private sector representatives, finance and science experts took stock of the existing landscape and discussed framework conditions for enhanced EU-Korea vaccine cooperation and for realizing cross-border business-to-business matchmaking.