Non-attached MEP Friedrich Pürner has asked the European Commission to disclose the total legal costs incurred so far in Case T-36/23, a transparency dispute brought by journalist Stevi and The New York Times against the EU executive. The question, submitted on 11 May 2026, targets the financial burden of the litigation, which Pürner suggests may be significant and warrants public scrutiny.
The written parliamentary question follows the Commission’s previous answer of 9 December 2025, in which it provided partial cost information but did not give a cumulative figure. Pürner now demands an updated total, noting that several more months have passed. The case, lodged at the General Court of the European Union, concerns access to documents and has drawn attention from press freedom advocates.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up Pürner’s question is a direct challenge to the Commission’s transparency and fiscal accountability. By focusing on legal costs, he implicitly questions whether the Commission is spending excessive public money to defend against access-to-information requests. The MEP does not propose specific numerical targets but seeks a concrete figure, which could fuel broader debate on the balance between institutional confidentiality and the public’s right to know.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it is willing to disclose full cost details or will continue to resist, potentially setting a precedent for how such litigation expenses are reported. The outcome may affect journalists and transparency NGOs, who view the case as a test of EU openness, as well as EU taxpayers, who ultimately bear the legal costs. The Commission itself faces reputational risk if the costs appear disproportionate.
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