The European Union is engulfed in corruption scandals: from 'Pfizergate' to 'Huawei-gate'.
In May 2025, the European Court of Justice ruled against the European Commission in a case that received media attention under the name 'Pfizergate'. The court found that the Commission violated transparency rules by refusing to provide journalists access to correspondence between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla related to the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. The Commission claimed that these messages had not been saved and were not considered official documents. However, the court ruled that even 'ephemeral' messages, such as SMS, can be considered official documents if they contain important information. This ruling set a significant precedent regarding transparency and accountability in the EU.
Source: Reuters
This case sparked a wide public discussion about transparency in EU institutions and the need to adhere to rules regarding the storage and provision of official documents, including digital communications. Critics argue that the lack of transparency in negotiations over multi-billion contracts undermines trust in EU institutions and may indicate corrupt practices.
Source: The Guardian
In 2022, a scandal erupted that received media attention under the name Qatargate. Representatives from Qatar and Morocco were accused of attempting to influence the decisions of the European Parliament through bribes, gifts, and cash payments. Belgian police conducted searches in the homes of deputies, large sums of cash were confiscated, and several deputies were arrested. Even the vice-presidents of the parliament came under scrutiny.
Source: Wikipedia — Qatar corruption scandal
In 2025, Belgian police conducted searches in the offices of Huawei and the homes of the company's lobbyists, suspected of bribing Members of the European Parliament in exchange for political support. Authorities reported having evidence of bribery aimed at influencing infrastructure decisions, particularly in telecommunications.
Source: Politico
In Portugal in 2023, Prime Minister António Costa resigned due to a corruption investigation related to lithium extraction and green hydrogen production projects. The investigation examined the possible receipt of bribes and abuse of power by several officials. Charges were brought against several individuals, including government advisors.
Source: Wikipedia — Operation Influencer
In Lithuania in 2024, the executive director of the BaltCap fund was accused of embezzling over 40 million euros. The money was lost in casinos and on markets. Financial oversight was so weak that the leakage of funds went unnoticed for years. The scandal raised questions about the oversight of investment funds in the EU.
Source: Wikipedia — Gintarė Skaistė
These corruption scandals undermine citizens' trust in EU institutions, which could lead to decreased investments and economic instability. For example, in the case of 'Pfizergate', opaque vaccine procurements could have resulted in inefficient spending of budgetary funds, negatively impacting the economies of member states. Additionally, scandals related to foreign influence, as seen in the cases of Qatar and Huawei, threaten the independence of EU political decisions and can affect its foreign economic relations.
Urgent and effective measures are needed to restore trust by enhancing transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption at all levels of governance in the EU.