The European Commission is likely to give the final authorization for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines days after the EU drug regulator approves them, a spokesman for the EU executive said on Tuesday.

The European Medicines Agency said earlier on Tuesday it planned to decide whether to approve the vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech by Dec. 29, and by Jan. 12 on the shot being developed by Moderna.

"It's probably a matter of days. The goal is to do it rapidly," the spokesman told a news conference, adding the exact date depended on the EMA's possible authorizations.

Under EU rules, EMA recommends the authorization of a drug or vaccine and the EU Commission authorizes them on the basis of the EMA's scientific advice, after consultation with the 27 EU states.