EU's Top Court Rules Against Ursula von der Leyen's Secretive Vaccine Deal Communications

Strategic Insights -

The European Union's General Court has annulled a European Commission decision that denied a journalist from The New York Times access to text messages exchanged between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. The verdict casts a shadow over von der Leyen's presidency and the European Commission's commitment to transparency, raising fresh doubts about her leadership style and handling of transparency obligations.

As part of the EU's negotiation of a multibillion-euro COVID-19 vaccine contract with Pfizer, the Commission exchanged private text messages with the pharmaceutical company. When a New York Times journalist submitted a request to access the messages under EU transparency laws, the Commission rejected the request, claiming it did not possess the requested documents. The court has now concluded that the Commission failed to justify its claim credibly and did not demonstrate adequate efforts to locate or preserve the messages.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union's General Court has annulled a European Commission decision to deny a journalist access to text messages exchanged between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
  • The verdict marks a significant legal and political blow to the EU's executive arm, raising doubts about von der Leyen's leadership style and handling of transparency obligations.
  • The Commission failed to justify its claim that it did not possess the requested documents credibly and did not demonstrate adequate efforts to locate or preserve the messages.
  • Transparency International's Shari Hinds said the decision was "a real victory for transparency," adding that it represented a step toward restoring public trust and institutional accountability.
  • The European Commission has acknowledged the need to provide a more detailed explanation as to why it was not able to provide the requested text messages.
  • The Commission can now appeal the ruling or comply by either releasing the messages or providing a detailed account for their absence, including information about whether they were deleted under what circumstances.
  • Members of the European Parliament reacted sharply, with co-chair of The Left Group, Martin Schirdewan, calling the ruling "a humiliation and resounding defeat" for the Commission.
  • Experts argue that the Commission's secretive approach has damaged trust in the EU and that transparency watchdogs and legal experts now call for a turning point in Brussels' handling of executive communications.

Statistics:

  • The European Union's General Court has annulled a European Commission decision.
  • 1 billion euros: estimated cost of the COVID-19 vaccine contract.
  • 2021: year when New York Times journalist Matina Stevis-Gridneff submitted a request to access the messages.
  • 0: number of formal explanation given by the Commission as to why it was not able to provide the requested text messages.

Sources:

  • European Union's General Court
  • The New York Times
  • Corporate Europe Observatory
  • Transparency International
  • European Commission
  • European Parliament
  • University of Helsinki
  • DW
  • Edited by: A. Thomas