Brussels court shields Polish air agency funds from Pfizer vaccine claim

The ruling

A first-instance court in Brussels ruled on Thursday, 12 November, that the money PAŻP collects from air navigation charges is the agency's own property. The court found that PAŻP is a separate legal entity with its own assets and independent financial management, so it is not liable for obligations of the State Treasury. On that basis, the funds cannot be used to satisfy Pfizer's claims against Poland.

“The court confirmed that funds from route charges belong to PAŻP, not to the State Treasury.”

Background to the dispute

The case concerns Covid-19 vaccines that Pfizer supplied and that Poland did not take receipt of. On 1 April, a Belgian court sided with the drugmaker and ordered Poland to take back about 64 million doses and pay it 5 billion 644 million zloty. On 1 July, Eurocontrol informed PAŻP that accounts receiving navigation charge income had been seized in connection with that ruling. Those accounts bring in more than 80% of the agency's revenue and are its main source of funding.

What comes next

The Ministry of Health said it is continuing to use its available legal remedies while respecting the competence and independence of Belgian courts. It has not disclosed details of its arguments or planned procedural steps, citing the ongoing proceedings. The Thursday ruling is a first-instance decision, and the wider dispute over the vaccines remains in the courts.