A recent Belgian court ruling has ordered Poland and Romania to pay Pfizer a combined $1.9 billion for COVID-19 vaccine doses that they refused to accept. Poland is liable for approximately $1.3 billion, while Romania owes around $600 million. This decision stems from a 2021 vaccine contract between the European Commission and Pfizer on behalf of EU member states, which Poland and Romania later declined to honor, citing changing pandemic conditions and financial pressures.
Following this ruling, actions have been taken to enforce the payments. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic body, has frozen payments owed to Poland's Air Navigation Services Agency (PAŻP) and Romania's Air Traffic Services Administration (ROMATSA). These route charges, paid by airlines for using the countries' airspace, constitute over 80% of PAŻP’s revenue, making the freeze a critical financial blow. ROMATSA also faces a precautionary garnishment measure for 3.4 billion Romanian Lei (approximately $727 million), plus $18.5 million in recovery costs, with interest accumulating at about $81,000 per day.
Both Poland and Romania are challenging these developments. Poland's health ministry plans to appeal the court ruling and is working with state authorities to release the frozen funds, while PAŻP assures continued air traffic services. Romania's interim prime minister stated the government will contest the enforcement proceedings against ROMATSA and seek an acceptable resolution with Pfizer. Despite these financial pressures and legal battles, both air navigation agencies maintain that air traffic services will continue without disruption.
