Signal EU Ombudsman opens investigation into Pfizergate text-message secrecy

Summary

European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly opened an investigation into the so-called Pfizergate affair. It concerns the European Commission's refusal to disclose text messages exchanged between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer during COVID-19 vaccine procurement talks. The inquiry followed a request for access from the German outlet Netzpolitik org, which the Commission denied. The Ombudsman herself was also refused access to the messages, with the Commission maintaining it had no obligation to preserve them. The case has revived longstanding transparency concerns surrounding the Commission's vaccine procurement process.