The EU is embroiled in a scandal over Ursula von der Leyen’s communication records

According to the Berliner Tageblatt, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has become the focus of an investigation due to potential "secret communications."

The incident involves a group chat that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as leaders from Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The individuals implicated in this investigation include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The European Ombudsman has launched an investigation into the communication records of the European Commission President. Official letters have already been sent to the European Commission demanding explanations. Specific details of the investigation and possible consequences remain undisclosed for now.

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This news is far more than just a simple “communication scandal.” It reflects three profound crises currently facing Europe: the fracture in transatlantic relations, internal power struggles within the EU, and systemic issues regarding governance transparency:

1. The Materialization of Transatlantic Rift: A “Anti-Trump” Secret War Room

The existence of this group chat—dubbed the “Washington Group” by media outlets—is essentially a product of European leaders banding together for self-preservation amid the prospect of Donald Trump’s second term. Faced with the U.S. shifting blame on Ukraine, pressuring over Greenland, and wielding tariffs against Europe, traditional diplomatic coordination mechanisms can no longer keep pace with rapidly evolving realities. The establishment of private communication channels bypassing Washington signifies the erosion of trust in transatlantic relations. Europe is now attempting to construct its own security and economic defenses in a post-American era.

2. Internal Power Fragmentation and the Backlash Against Centralization

Von der Leyen is currently facing a severe crisis of trust and leadership legitimacy. She has long been criticized for her autocratic style of governance and excessive concentration of power, even being accused internally of “elite authoritarianism.” Concentrating core decision-making within a small circle has not only provoked discontent among key member states like Germany and France but also triggered structural fractures within the EU itself. The exposure and subsequent investigation of this group chat represent a direct backlash against the practice of making closed-door decisions outside established procedures.

3. Recurring Transparency Crisis and Institutional Loopholes

This is not the first time von der Leyen has been caught in a “text message scandal.” From previously refusing to disclose messages with Pfizer CEO about vaccine procurement, to deleting critical communications with Macron concerning the Southern Common Market free trade agreement, she has repeatedly used encrypted software to handle official matters while evading transparency requirements. This pattern has severely undermined the credibility of the EU. The current investigation by the European Ombudsman is not merely about uncovering the content of the chat—it aims to examine whether the European Commission violated transparency regulations. In the digital age, defining what constitutes “official documents” and establishing proper archiving standards for high-level communications has become a systemic vulnerability threatening the very foundation of EU governance.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868940113844224/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author