Overview

• The EU General Court annulled the European Commission's decision to deny the New York Times access to text messages between Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
• The messages, exchanged during January 2021 to May 2022, were part of negotiations for a significant Covid-19 vaccine deal involving 1.8 billion doses.
• The court found the Commission's explanations for the texts' absence insufficient, citing reliance on unsubstantiated hypotheses and vague information.
• The Commission has pledged to review the ruling and issue a new decision with a more detailed justification, while further media access requests are anticipated.
• The case highlights tensions between EU transparency laws and institutional practices, raising broader questions about governance, accountability, and media rights.