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The following paper examines the landmark ruling of May 14, 2025, by the General Court (EU), which significantly expands the EU’s legal framework on transparency and the right of access to documents. By recognizing digital communications—such as SMS exchanges—as official documents when linked to institutional activity, the decision obliges EU institutions to improve documentation and archiving practices. The case, involving President Ursula von der Leyen’s informal negotiations with Pfizer, also carries major political weight, marking a turning point in the “Pfizergate” affair and potentially shaping the future of transparency and governance in the European Union.

On May 14, 2025, the General Court of the European Union issued an important decision concerning the SMS exchanges between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. These messages, sent between January 2021 and May 2022, related to negotiations over a contract to purchase vaccines produced by the American giant for a total estimated value of 35 billion euros. The Court’s ruling overturned the European Commission's decision to withhold the messages, following a transparency request filed by American journalist Matina Stevis, Brussels correspondent for The New York Times.

While this decision will undoubtedly have political repercussions, it also contains legal elements that significantly advance the notions of transparency and good governance in an era of digitized exchanges. More than just a legal turning point, this judgment may ultimately prove to be a defining moment in contemporary European politics.