The General Court of the EU finds that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not been open enough about her contacts with the Pfilzer group regarding multi-million contracts for anti-Covid medicines. According to the European judges, Von der Leyen should have provided her emails and texts to the Pfilzer CEO to MEPs who requested them at the time.
Some MEPs were critical of the way in which the Commission handled billion-dollar contracts, and in particular because text messages between Von der Leyen and the boss of drug manufacturer Pfizer were not made public. The Commission says it has not kept the messages.
The condemning 'tap on the fingers' comes on the eve of a crucial vote in the European Parliament on the possible reappointment of Von der Leyen. In October 2021, the Greens requested access to the COVID-19 vaccine contracts after it emerged that Von der Leyen had personally interfered with them.
Two years ago, the European Ombudsman accused the Commission of maladministration because Brussels had not made public the text messages with Pfizer chief Albert Bourla. The New York Times sued the Commission for failing to release the text messages.
So far the issue has not affected her candidacy as she quickly gained the support of the main political groups, EPP, S&D and Renew Europe. Von der Leyen has also publicly sought support from the Greens in recent days. These stipulate the condition that the European Commission does not seek political support from extreme right-wing factions, and that the Green Deal climate agreements are maintained, including in European agriculture.
The court ruling on the secrecy of the Covid medicine deals may now pose a dilemma for the Greens. The European Parliament will debate and vote with Von der Leyen on Thursday (July 18). The ruling of the EU Court will undoubtedly also be discussed there.
The European Commission said in an initial response that it was studying the Court's rulings and their implications and would reserve its legal options. The Commission may decide to appeal to the European Court of Justice.