🇪🇺 EU Court Slams von der Leyen Over Secret Pfizer Texts
The EU General Court has ruled that the European Commission unlawfully withheld text messages exchanged between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The messages, sent ahead of a… pic.twitter.com/BRzVjwBjsl
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) May 14, 2025
The EU Court of Justice has found Ursula von der Leyen responsible for concealing information about contracts for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021-2023. According to Politico, this decision could have serious consequences for transparency and accountability in the… pic.twitter.com/OjZjA0O7yK
— Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil (@ivan_8848) May 14, 2025
The European Union’s highest court has ruled against Ursula von der Leyen, finding that the European Commission unlawfully withheld text messages exchanged between its president and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during the COVID-19 vaccine negotiations. The decision marks a major blow to von der Leyen’s credibility, reigniting concerns over backchannel dealings with pharmaceutical giants during one of the bloc’s most expensive public health agreements.
The case was brought by The New York Times, which sought access to the texts exchanged between January 1, 2021, and May 11, 2022. The Commission rejected the request, claiming von der Leyen had not kept the messages. The court dismissed this explanation, ruling that the Commission failed to provide a plausible justification for withholding the documents.
The implications of this ruling are enormous. The European Commission negotiated vaccine contracts worth billions of euros, yet key details of those agreements remain hidden from public scrutiny. The court’s decision forces the Commission to disclose the texts, potentially exposing undisclosed terms, pricing agreements, and political maneuvering behind the vaccine deals.
The scandal, dubbed Pfizergate, has fueled suspicions that von der Leyen personally interfered in negotiations, bypassing standard procurement procedures. Critics argue that the lack of transparency raises serious ethical concerns, particularly given the 1.9 billion doses purchased under her leadership.
This ruling is a turning point for EU accountability. The Commission now faces pressure to comply with transparency laws, while von der Leyen’s political future hangs in the balance. The court’s decision could set a precedent for how EU officials handle sensitive negotiations, ensuring that backroom deals do not escape public oversight.
Sources:
https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2025-05-14/eu-court-annuls-rejection-of-bid-for-eus-von-der-leyen-vaccine-messages-with-pfizer https://www.politico.eu/article/von-der-leyen-critical-test-eu-court-decides-secret-pfizergate-texts/ https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2025/0514/1512730-ecj-von-der-leyen-texts/