The European Commission has lost a court case related to the exchange of text messages between its President, Ursula von der Leyen, and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding COVID-19 vaccine procurement. The case centered around transparency and accountability in the EU’s handling of the pandemic response.
The court’s ruling highlighted concerns about the lack of transparency in the Commission’s communication with pharmaceutical companies. The Commission had argued that the texts were not formal documents and therefore did not need to be disclosed. However, the court disagreed, emphasizing the importance of transparency in public institutions.
The outcome of this case may have implications for the EU’s transparency policies and practices, particularly in high-stakes negotiations like vaccine procurement. It underscores the need for accountability and openness in the EU’s decision-making processes, especially during times of crisis .
