European Court Criticizes Commission's Vaccine Contract Transparency

Europe's second-highest court criticized the European Commission for lack of transparency in COVID-19 vaccine contracts. Lawmakers have been critical of the Commission's secretive handling of these agreements, especially undisclosed texts between von der Leyen and Pfizer's CEO. The court ruling pushes for more openness in future procurements.

Europe's General Court has admonished the European Commission for its opaque handling of COVID-19 vaccine contracts, a decision coming a day before a vote on Commission head Ursula von der Leyen's second-term bid. The court sided with European lawmakers who have long argued that the Commission's refusal to disclose certain communications, particularly text messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, undermines transparency.

The contested contracts, involving major pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer, were only partially shared with lawmakers, with redactions justified by the Commission as necessary to protect commercial interests. The General Court, however, found that these justifications were insufficient and called for greater public access to these documents.

In its defense, the Commission stated that it aims to balance public information rights with legal obligations from the vaccine contracts, which include risks of damages claims. The ruling has significant implications for future joint procurements in health and defense sectors, emphasizing the need for enhanced transparency.

(With inputs from agencies.)