European Commission Faces Scrutiny

(MENAFN) The European Commission is facing a fresh investigation due to its failure to document and archive communications from President Ursula von der Leyen, European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho revealed on Tuesday.

The probe centers on a text message that von der Leyen allegedly received in January from French President Emmanuel Macron through the encrypted Signal application.

The commission declined to disclose the message under a freedom of information request, stating that it had been automatically deleted.

The communication pertained to EU discussions concerning a disputed trade agreement with Mercosur, a consortium of Latin American countries.

Although the agreement was concluded last December, it has not yet been implemented.

Macron has openly criticized the deal, which French farmers fear will subject them to intense competition from Brazilian and Argentinian beef producers. Politico characterized Macron’s message as an effort to “blow up” the treaty.

Journalist Alexander Fanta from investigative platform Follow the Money stated that he submitted the complaint after the commission refused to supply the text.

He accused von der Leyen’s chief of staff of permitting its deletion following his formal request, labeling that act “an absolute no-no.”

Fanta further commented that the commission’s justification of auto-deletion “sounds like an excuse” and should not be accepted.

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