EU Commission Faces Scrutiny Over Transparency Issues
The European Commission has opted not to contest a recent ruling by the EU’s top-tier Court of Justice regarding transparency in communications related to vaccine negotiations, heightening concerns among transparency advocates and critics of vaccine distribution. This decision came after the deadline for appeal passed earlier this month, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the EU courts, reports 24brussels.
In July, the issue intensified when Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament, initiated by right-wing Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea. Despite the challenges, von der Leyen secured the support of the majority of MEPs, successfully surviving the vote. This marked the first occasion where she publicly defended her actions concerning the accusations of lack of transparency related to vaccine contracts.
During the parliamentary session in Strasbourg, von der Leyen characterized some of the allegations against her as “simply a lie.” Her defense, however, did not address the underlying concerns about the Commission’s decision not to appeal the court’s ruling.
The court stated that retrieving the disputed texts would likely pose significant challenges. In compliance with the ruling, a spokesperson for the Commission indicated that it would provide a more detailed rationale for the absence of the requested documents, although the release of those messages remains uncertain.
This situation underscores ongoing tensions within the EU regarding accountability, transparency, and the management of public health responses, especially in light of the broader context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Calls for greater transparency are likely to persist as the Commission navigates these contentious waters.
