The Medicines Agency has approved the use of the Covid-19 vaccine jointly developed by US company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.
It means Europe could be on course to start inoculations within a week. "I am delighted to announce that the EMA scientific committee met today and recommended a conditional marketing authorisation in the EU for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech," EMA chief Emer Cooke told an online press conference.
Germany, Austria and Italy have said they plan to start vaccinations from 27 December. The United States and Britain began their vaccination programmes earlier this month.
The approval of the vaccine follows clinical trials among 40,000 participants. Ms Cooke said it appeared the Pfizer/BioNTech