Court Rules European Commission Must Release von der Leyen's Pfizer Messages

In a significant ruling, the European Union's General Court has determined that the European Commission incorrectly denied access to text messages exchanged between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer's CEO regarding the Covid-19 vaccine deals, raising concerns over transparency in governmental processes.

The European Commission has faced a major setback, with the General Court of the EU ruling that it was wrong to deny a request for Ursula von der Leyen's text messages with Pfizer's CEO, Albert Bourla. This case arose amid negotiations for Covid-19 vaccine contracts, including a deal for 1.8 billion doses signed in 2021. The court criticized the Commission’s lack of a credible explanation for withholding the messages from a journalist's inquiry, which sparked public interest in transparency known as “Pfizergate.”

Transparency International deemed the court's decision a pivotal moment for openness within the EU, calling for an end to restrictive freedom of information practices. The controversy traces back to 2021, following reports highlighting how von der Leyen engaged in private negotiations with Bourla after his company's vaccine was approved. Despite the Commission stating transparency is vital, the case raises serious questions about its commitment to that principle.

The European Commission now faces scrutiny over its handling of records, as it failed to clarify whether these vital SMS documents existed or if they had been deleted, either intentionally or due to von der Leyen changing phones. The court's ruling pushes the issue of governmental accountability and encourages further investigations into the nature of communications during crucial health negotiations, challenging the Commission to reevaluate its stance on public access to official records.