November 15, 2024 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Martina Stevis-Gridneff of The New York Times is suing the European Commission for access to text messages between EC President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. These texts are tied to a historic €1.8B COVID vaccine deal and are at the heart of a transparency battle.

The case could redefine what counts as an "official document" under EU law and expose if public officials use disappearing messages to evade transparency rules.

In a hearing at the European Court of Justice on Friday, the European Commission claimed that no "substantive" texts exist and that they didn’t search von der Leyen’s devices. Judges criticized the lack of a thorough search, with one calling the situation "bizarre." The decision in the case will be announced in the coming months.

The deals involved billions in taxpayer euros. Accountability in decisions affecting health and budgets is crucial. If these texts qualify as official documents, it will set a precedent ensuring that officials can’t evade oversight through informal communication— a win for accountability.

Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Martina Stevis-Gridneff, whose legal actions are an assertion of the journalistic mission to hold power accountable. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for press freedom, transparency, and public access to information in the EU and beyond.