The European Commission on Monday approved the use of BioNTech and Pfizer's vaccine against COVID-19 following a positive recommendation by the European Medicines Agency.

“Today we add an important chapter to a European success story, by making available the 1st COVID19 vaccine for Europeans,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.

Von der Leyen underscored that more vaccines will come and that the vaccine approved today will be available to all EU countries at the same time, on the same conditions.

The coming days of vaccination will also be a big moment for European unity. This is a good way to end the year and start a new page in the fight against the pandemic, she added.

Earlier in the day, the European Medicines Agency approved the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine after which the Commission checked all the elements required to conditionally approve the vaccine and put it on the market and to consult with all EU member states prior to making its decision.

“Today is a decisive moment for Europe & the management of COVID-19. Today is a day of true EU solidarity in action,” Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides tweeted.

Preparations to introduce the vaccine in the EU come after a new strain of coronavirus was detected in Great Britain and EU countries have closed their borders for the United Kingdom ahead of the Christmas holidays.

EMA has said that it is very likely that the vaccine will be effective for the latest strain of coronavirus.

The EU aims to vaccinate at least 70% of its 450 million population.