EU president wrong to withhold COVID-19 vaccine text messages
A European Union court on Wednesday annulled a decision to withhold text messages exchanged between European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer chief Albert Bourla.
Ms von der Leyen was accused of the annulment of a multibillion-euro deal to buy COVID-19 vaccines by him.
The court upheld an action filed by the New York Times and its correspondent, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, after the commission refused to hand over the text messages upon request.
According to court records, it also argued that it did not hold any such documents.
The judges concluded, however, that the plaintiffs “have produced relevant and consistent evidence describing the existence of exchanges, in the form of text messages in particular”.
They successfully showed that the requested documents existed and were in their possession, the judges ruled.
The commission has the right to appeal.
(dpa/NAN)
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