European justice orders the publication of COVID vaccine contracts amid transparency concerns
The alleged corruption scandal surrounding the non-disclosure of COVID-19 vaccine contracts by the European Commission continues to gain traction. Despite a ruling from the General Court of the EU ordering the publication of the agreements, the Commission has chosen not to comply and has instead appealed to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU). This decision has raised numerous questions about the motives behind the purchase of 4.6 billion vaccine doses for fewer than 450 million European citizens—a massive procurement funded with public money, which ultimately resulted in the loss of millions of doses.
This move to keep the contracts secret has not only sparked concern among European lawmakers but also among the general public. The Commission argues that the classification of the documents is necessary to protect the commercial interests of pharmaceutical companies and to safeguard the privacy of officials involved in the negotiations. However, the General Court found these justifications insufficient, ruling in favor of the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) demanding transparency. The court declared that the public has a right to know which officials were involved in the negotiations and whether there were potential conflicts of interest, although certain commercial details could remain confidential.
In addition to this controversy, another case known as “Pfizergate” has also progressed. In November, the CJEU will hold hearings to address a lawsuit filed by The New York Times, seeking access to text messages between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO, Albert Bourla. These messages, allegedly deleted, are key to clarifying the negotiations that led to an order of 1.8 billion vaccine doses from Pfizer. Von der Leyen has faced numerous criticisms for not disclosing these exchanges, even after pressure from EU agencies and the European Ombudsman. If the deletion of these conversations is confirmed, the president could face legal issues for what would be a serious transparency breach.
The Commission has also been accused of attempting to delay the outcome of these cases to protect Von der Leyen, who was recently re-elected with the support of the European People’s Party (EPP), the Social Democrats, and the Greens.
The case has highlighted existing doubts about those currently managing the continent. As the trial approaches, representatives of groups like “Patriots for Europe” hope that the CJEU will restore confidence and compel the Commission to be accountable for what appears to be a dark chapter in the management of the COVID pandemic in the EU.
