The Liege court halted the ongoing investigation into the case involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tied to a Covid-19 vaccine procurement deal that covered 1.8 billion doses at a price of 35.8 billion euros. This pause, described in court records, signals a turning point in a high profile matter touching the leadership of the European Union and the health purchases made during the early days of the pandemic.
The Liege court stated that the complaint brought by Frédéric Baldan against von der Leyen would not be evaluated within the scope of the current review, a decision that reshaped the proceedings and left several questions unsettled. The ruling clarified that Baldan’s specific challenge would not be assessed as part of the present probe.
The court’s ruling was issued on January 20, marking a procedural shift in a case that has attracted attention across European institutions and capitals alike.
At the center of the controversy is a contract for Covid-19 vaccines whose trial results had not yet been completed at the time. It is alleged that the decision followed SMS exchanges with Pfizer’s leadership and occurred without prior agreement from EU member states, resulting in 35.8 billion euros charged to the EU budget.
On April 1, 2024, a criminal inquiry was opened by leading European prosecutors into the matter, with the European Union prosecutor’s office taking the lead. Investigators examined potential interference with government functions, deletion of SMS messages, corruption, and conflicts of interest connected to the vaccine procurement.
Earlier reports indicated the court would consider the immunity of the European Commission chair in relation to the alleged corruption charges, a debate that continues to influence how the case is pursued within Belgian and EU institutions.