(Adds British quotes)
BRUSSELS, July 2 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on
Friday it is looking at ways to agree a coordinated approach to
accepting the Indian version of AstraZeneca's shot,
Covishield, across the European Union but will need some time.
The Commission reiterated that the jab, which has been given
to millions of Britons, is not yet approved by the European
Medicines Agency (EMA) or recognised under the EU's new vaccine
passport scheme to travel freely within the bloc from July 1.
"I don't think you can say that it won't be possible to come
to the EU with this vaccine," a spokesperson for the EU
executive told a regular briefing.
"In order to ensure a coordinated approach, the Commission
is in discussion with the member states to see which is the best
approach to follow," a second spokesperson said.
The EU vaccine passport programme allows people to travel
freely within the bloc as long as they have had one of four
Western-made vaccines. While this includes the AstraZeneca shot,
it does not extend to Covishield, the Indian version of the
vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India (SII).
In addition to the AstraZeneca shot, the other EU-recognised
vaccines are those made by Moderna, Pfizer and
BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson.
Britain, no longer a member of the EU, urged the Commission
and the bloc's 27 states to seek a swift solution. EU countries
that depend on tourism, such as Greece, are also eager to see
the return of British holidaymakers.
"Our priority is to ensure safe and open, travel, and we
will work with the European Commission on mutual recognition of
certification," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson
told reporters.
"I would say that all AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK
are the same product, and they have been subject to rigorous
safety and quality checks," the spokesperson said."
(Reporting by Robin Emmott in Brussels and William James in
London
Editing by John Chalmers and Steve Orlofsky)