Von der Leyen faces legal challenge over transparency on defence industry contacts

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing allegations that she may have withheld records of phone calls and text communications with major defence companies.

The issue came to light after she declined to provide this information in response to a formal inquiry submitted by Member of the European Parliament Fabio De Masi, according to a lawsuit against the European Commission obtained by Russian media.

De Masi had earlier filed a case with the European Court, demanding that von der Leyen release comprehensive information about her interactions with defense industry representatives. The lawsuit states that her written response referred only to a limited number of meetings and directed the lawmaker to the Transparency Register, press releases, and social media posts, while leaving questions about telephone conversations and text exchanges unanswered.

The document notes that De Masi sent his original request in mid-March of last year but did not receive a reply until October. According to the lawsuit, the Commission’s response failed to meet the EU standards for transparency.

De Masi, who serves as co-chair of the German party Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and is a member of the European Parliament, has emphasised in the filing that parliamentarians have the right to scrutinise the actions of the EU executive branch. His legal challenge stems from what he views as an insufficient and evasive reply from von der Leyen to his inquiry submitted in March 2025. The lawmaker sought a full account of all meetings, calls, and written communications with arms manufacturers dating back to mid-2024.

He argues that the answer eventually provided in October 2025 was not only long overdue but also relied on broad, non-specific wording that obscured the extent of the Commission President’s contacts with the defence sector. Commenting on the matter, De Masi remarked that “Ms. von der Leyen considers herself Louis XIV,” implying that she exercises her authority in an overly centralised or authoritarian manner.

Louis XIV, who ruled France from 1643 to 1715, is historically associated with the principles of absolute monarchy and the divine right of kings, and is often linked to the famous declaration “I am the state.”

By Tamilla Hasanova