- providing fair access to vaccines and treatments. At the same time, we want to maintain the levels of protection required for investment in innovation, so we can fight against new strains of COVID-19 and any future disease. The EU does not consider that the broad waiver proposed by a number of WTO members is the right response to the pandemic. We are arguing for a different and more targeted approach. The EU believes that voluntary licences are the most effective instrument to facilitate expansion of production and share the necessary know-how. There are more than 280 partnerships worldwide which can make the fullest use of these licences.