European Lawmakers Sue Parliament Over Vaccine Contract Investigation Refusal
November 11, 2025181 VuesTemps de lecture: 2 minutes
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A group of lawmakers in the European Parliament has initiated legal action against the institution itself after it declined to conduct an official investigation into the COVID-19 vaccine procurement contracts within the European Union. This decision has sparked significant controversy in political and media circles since 2021.
According to reports from Politico, the General Court of the European Union has received an official request asserting that the decision by political group leaders to block a vote on establishing an investigative committee was "illegal," as stated in submitted documents.
The lawsuit was filed by right-wing groups within the Parliament, including the Identity and Democracy group, the European Conservatives and Reformists group, and the European Freedom and Direct Democracy group.
More than 180 members of the European Parliament had previously called for a comprehensive investigation into the contracts signed during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that the lack of transparency raises "legitimate concerns about conflicts of interest and the management of public funds."
Context of the Allegations
This development follows a prior ruling by a European court in Luxembourg, which confirmed that the European Commission had committed violations during the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 and 2021, including withholding information related to vaccine pricing and failing to provide adequate evidence of the absence of conflicts of interest.
In 2021, The New York Times reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding the largest vaccine procurement contract in EU history, valued at approximately €35 billion for the purchase of 1.8 billion doses—far exceeding the needs of the EU population.
Despite repeated calls to release the content of these exchanges, the European Commission refused to disclose them in June 2022, intensifying the debate over the nature of the negotiations and transparency in the management of these contracts.
According to reports from Politico, the General Court of the European Union has received an official request asserting that the decision by political group leaders to block a vote on establishing an investigative committee was "illegal," as stated in submitted documents.
The lawsuit was filed by right-wing groups within the Parliament, including the Identity and Democracy group, the European Conservatives and Reformists group, and the European Freedom and Direct Democracy group.
More than 180 members of the European Parliament had previously called for a comprehensive investigation into the contracts signed during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that the lack of transparency raises "legitimate concerns about conflicts of interest and the management of public funds."
Context of the Allegations
This development follows a prior ruling by a European court in Luxembourg, which confirmed that the European Commission had committed violations during the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 and 2021, including withholding information related to vaccine pricing and failing to provide adequate evidence of the absence of conflicts of interest.
In 2021, The New York Times reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding the largest vaccine procurement contract in EU history, valued at approximately €35 billion for the purchase of 1.8 billion doses—far exceeding the needs of the EU population.
Despite repeated calls to release the content of these exchanges, the European Commission refused to disclose them in June 2022, intensifying the debate over the nature of the negotiations and transparency in the management of these contracts.
