The European Court ruled on Wednesday that the European Commission's decision to withhold sections of Covid-19 vaccine contracts lacked transparency.
Found Irregularities
According to Hotnews the court found irregularities in the Commission's decision to keep parts of the contracts secret, stating that during the pandemic, the Commission did not provide sufficient public access to the procurement contracts for Covid-19 vaccines.
This decision upheld a challenge brought by several Members of the European Parliament concerning the EU executive's management of these contracts.
Additionally, the court determined that the European Commission failed to demonstrate that broader access to the contracts would undermine the commercial interests of pharmaceutical companies.
Long Awaited Ruling
This long-awaited ruling comes just ahead of a pivotal moment where Ursula von der Leyen prepares to address MEPs on Thursday to reassure those skeptical of her leadership that she is capable of guiding the Commission through another term. Von der Leyen, seeking reconfirmation as President, needs the backing of 361 MEPs, a narrow margin.
Her previous handling of transparency and collaboration with institutions remains a contentious issue among MEPs crucial to her reconfirmation. While she secured support from centrist groups like her own European People's Party, the Socialists and Democrats, and Renew in 2019, her majority hinges on their collective support in a secret ballot.
Demands Transparency
However, von der Leyen may also need to secure backing from other groups, potentially including the Greens, which poses additional challenges.
The recent ruling by the European Court, prompted by a group of Green MEPs, demanded transparency regarding Covid-19 vaccine procurement contracts and related documents from the Commission. Initially providing only partial access, the Commission argued that certain sections were redacted to safeguard commercial interests or confidentiality.
MEPs contested this decision in court, leading to the court's recent decision.
