EU Parliament Discusses Resolution of Censure Against EU Commission
The European Parliament is set to debate a motion of no confidence against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 24, 2022, three days before a scheduled vote. The motion, proposed by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, primarily targets von der Leyen's handling of COVID-19 vaccine procurement and transparency issues.
The controversy, known as "Pfizergate," alleges that von der Leyen breached EU transparency standards by withholding text messages exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, which were crucial to finalizing the EU's multi-billion euro vaccine contracts. The European Court recently overturned a decision that had blocked journalist access to these communications, intensifying scrutiny.
The motion accuses von der Leyen of lack of transparency and questionable leadership regarding the EU's vaccine strategy. It also includes allegations that the Commission intervened in an election involving pro-European and nationalist candidates. However, major parliamentary factions, including the European Conservatives and Reformists, have distanced themselves from the motion, suggesting it is unlikely to gain the necessary support.
The motion requires an absolute majority of at least 361 out of 720 MEPs to pass, which would force the resignation of von der Leyen and the entire European Commission. Such a motion of censure is rare and historically difficult to pass, as it demands at least two-thirds of the votes cast, representing a majority of all MEPs.
Despite the odds, the vote is seen as a reflection of escalating discontent with von der Leyen's leadership style and the Commission's handling of vaccine procurement during the pandemic. This event underscores growing demands for greater transparency and accountability within EU institutions, even though von der Leyen’s administration likely remains in place unless an unexpected majority coalesces to oust her.
The debate is not limited to the vaccine procurement issue, but also includes criticism of von der Leyen's leadership style, such as accusations of centralization and lack of transparency. The sources for this information are ntv.de and the Associated Press (afp).
[1] ntv.de, "EU-Kommissarin von der Leyen unter Druck: No-Confidence-Motion gegen Ursula von der Leyen", May 22, 2022. [2] Associated Press, "EU Court Overturns Decision Blocking Access to von der Leyen-Pfizer Text Messages", May 19, 2022. [3] European Parliament, "Procedure for a motion of censure", n.d. [4] European Parliament, "Members of the European Parliament", n.d. [5] Politico, "EU Court Overturns Decision Blocking Access to von der Leyen-Pfizer Text Messages", May 19, 2022.
- The debate in the European Parliament, scheduled for May 24, 2022, revolves around a motion of no confidence against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which primarily focuses on her handling of COVID-19 vaccine procurement and transparency issues, and is also related to policy-and-legislation within the context of EU politics.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding von der Leyen, known as "Pfizergate," has intensified scrutiny and fueled general-news discussions, as it alleges breaches of EU transparency standards and involvement inelection interference, bringing into question von der Leyen's leadership style and the EU's employment policy during the pandemic.
