The case stems from an access to documents request filed in 2022 by New York Times journalist Matina Stevis-Gridneff, who asked to see communications — including text messages — between von der Leyen and Bourla, after their existence was revealed in an interview.

The EU Court found the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, responsible for concealing information about contracts for the purchase of vaccines against coronavirus in 2021-2023.

The Commission is found to have wrongly refused to publish texts from its president during the Covid pandemic.