Capitol Riot - capitol-riot.comThe European Commission has opted not to contest a recent ruling by the EU’s top-tier Court of Justice regarding transparency in communications related to vaccine negotiations, heightening concerns among transparency advocates and critics of vaccine distribution. This decision came after the deadline for appeal passed earlier this month, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the EU courts, reports 24brussels.
In July, the issue intensified when Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament, initiated by right-wing Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea. Despite the challenges, von der Leyen secured the support of the majority of MEPs, successfully surviving the vote. This marked the first occasion where she publicly defended her actions concerning the accusations of lack of transparency related to vaccine contracts.
During the parliamentary session in Strasbourg, von der Leyen characterized some of the allegations against her as “simply a lie.” Her defense, however, did not address the underlying concerns about the Commission’s decision not to appeal the court’s ruling.
The court stated that retrieving the disputed texts would likely pose significant challenges. In compliance with the ruling, a spokesperson for the Commission indicated that it would provide a more detailed rationale for the absence of the requested documents, although the release of those messages remains uncertain.
This situation underscores ongoing tensions within the EU regarding accountability, transparency, and the management of public health responses, especially in light of the broader context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Calls for greater transparency are likely to persist as the Commission navigates these contentious waters.
The European Union has reached a trade agreement with the United States, averting the threat of a 30 percent tariff on most EU goods set to take effect on August 1. This development follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent visit to Beijing, wherein relations were notably strained rather than celebratory, reports 24brussels.
After a one-day summit marking the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations, von der Leyen remarked that the bloc’s relationship with China has attained an “inflection point.” She emphasized the need for a more balanced trade dynamic, underscoring that the EU’s markets may not remain accessible to Chinese exports without significant efforts from Beijing to rectify the trading relationship.
In an effort to strengthen ties with the White House, von der Leyen has adopted a firmer stance on Beijing in recent months, prompting warnings from China about potential retaliation against nations that form trade agreements with the U.S.
Anticipations for tangible outcomes regarding trade from the EU-China summit were muted, with EU officials acknowledging that the mere occurrence of the meeting was a milestone given the prevailing tensions. Preceding the summit, the EU imposed sanctions on two Chinese banks amid their ongoing restrictions connected to Russia, which elicited a strong reaction from Beijing, denouncing the move as “egregious.”
Ultimately, the EU and China established a framework aimed at expediting permits for raw materials, addressing concerns expressed by numerous European businesses regarding China’s stringent export controls over rare earth minerals. However, significant issues, including disputes over the EU’s anti-subsidy measures on Chinese electric vehicles and access to medical device procurement processes, remain unresolved.
