EU ombudsman slams executive arm over vaccine communication

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union ombudsman has found that the bloc’s executive arm poorly handled a request for access to text messages exchanged by its president and the CEO of pharmaceutical company Pfizer regarding coronavirus vaccine purchases. Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly on Friday recommended that the European Commission “do a more extensive search for the relevant messages.” The coronavirus crisis has shed a light on the lack of transparency surrounding the negotiations for vaccine deals between the EU and big pharmaceutical groups.