As the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines ramps up around the world, the European Union is preparing to launch legal action against AstraZeneca.

According to Reuters, the European Commission is working on legal proceedings against the drugmaker following the company cutting vaccine deliveries to the EU.

The move is set to further strain relationships and would further step a plan to allow the EU to cut ties with the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant.

AstraZeneca has been accused of repeatedly cutting vaccine supplies to the EU, resulting in major delays to the vaccine rollout across Europe.

AstraZeneca is under a contract to supply 180 million doses in the second quarter of this year but in a major blow, back in March, AstraZeneca revealed they could only deliver one-third of that total.

They cited manufacturing issues as one of the main reasons for the delay. 

EU states will still need to decide if they’ll participate in the legal action, .according to an official from the European Commission.

However, earlier in March Brussels sent a legal letter to the company highlighting their intention of potential court proceedings.