Macron supports lifting patents on anti-Covid vaccines "temporarily"

Anyone would say that among the greats of the Earth who preside over the seven richest democracies (G-7) a competition has been established to see who helps Africa the most to end the Covid. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has dedicated a large part of his two hours of appearance before the press this Thursday to this 'vaccine diplomacy', before attending the G-7 summits in the United Kingdom and NATO in Brussels.

Macron is in favor of lifting patents on a “temporary and limited” basis so that Africa is able to produce at least 20% of the vaccines it needs. The French head of state thus joins the initiative of India and South Africa.

It is an intermediate position that seeks a balance between those who want to completely lift patents and those who defend intellectual property with hammer blows.. “It is necessary to reconcile the capacity to produce and the fair remuneration of the intellectual property of the innovator.”

Macron expects the G-7 to assume the goal of a percentage of 60% of Africans vaccinated by the end of the first quarter of 2022. With a target or intermediate of 40% by the end of this year.

For this, it has appealed to pharmaceutical laboratories to donate 10% of the doses of vaccines they sell to poor countries. “The donation of the States must be completed with that of the laboratories. States have massively financed research and purchase. It is legitimate that the pharmaceutical industry contributes to solidarity in a proportional way”, he reflected.

Regarding the White House announcement to donate 500 million doses, Macron has stated that we Europeans “must do the same”. The French president has been critical of US export limitations. Going so far as to justify the delay in European vaccination campaigns in which exports from Europe were not restricted.

He also called for transparency in terms of prices and considered it unfair that the vaccines that African countries buy on the market are more expensive.

French exit from the Sahel

The other big announcement from Macron's press conference is the end of 'operation Barkhane', the contingent of 5,100 French soldiers deployed in the Sahel since 2013 with the aim of fighting against the jihadism of a group affiliated with al Qaeda.. Although the president has evaded specifying figures and deadlines, it is estimated in Paris that the staggered withdrawal would halve the number of soldiers in two years.

“France's role is not to replace the States,” Macron said, not hiding his criticism of Mali, where the French deployment is focused. France had already announced the interruption of joint operations with the Malian army to condemn the latest coup, the second in eight months, and supports international pressure for a transitional government towards civilian power and elections next year. comes.

The French military operation also suffered a setback with the death of Chadian President Idris Deby. Lacking firm allies and analyzing that “we must draw the consequences of what does not work”, Macron seeks to leave the Sahel, leaving the minimum troops there to be able to launch anti-terrorist operations and, probably, another group dedicated to instructing local troops.

Meeting with Erdoğan

In general, Macron has been optimistic about the end of the pandemic, although prudently he has not wanted to talk about deadlines to completely lift the mask obligation.

Comforted by the arrival of Joe Biden to the White House, he has praised multilateralism, defended in recent years by Europe. For all problems (Iran, Türkiye) has proposed dialogue. Although he has been highly critical of Tehran and Ankara, he has announced a face-to-face meeting with President Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

In this first major post-Covid press conference, Macron appeared in the great room of the Élysée Palace, called the ballroom, with all the illuminated chandeliers and the air conditioning on full blast.. The piano, Steinway, awaited other more jubilant celebrations in a corner.