Original article (in Albanian) was published on 05/01/2026; Author: Barbara Halla
A post, also shared on Albanian-speaking Facebook pages, claims that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has turned a part of her office building into a living space to avoid arrest by the Belgian prosecutor’s office. This claim comes amid investigations by Belgian judicial authorities in Liège, launched in early 2023, regarding the so-called “Pfizergate,” a case concerning negotiations between EC President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO over the procurement of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The video claims that, unlike “all of Ursula’s predecessors, and indeed every politician, MP, or senior official who rents an apartment to live in, only Ursula has converted several offices into a residence within the European Parliament.”
It also suggests that von der Leyen made this decision because the Belgian police “have no jurisdiction to arrest her inside the EU Parliament.”
In reality, von der Leyen does not live in the European Parliament. She resides in a 25-square-meter room on the 13th floor of the Berlaymont building, the main headquarters of the European Commission. According to Deutsche Welle, this arrangement was made in October 2019, long before the Pfizergate investigation, for practical and economic reasons, not to evade justice. Von der Leyen followed a similar practice during her career in Germany, living in ministry offices during the week to spend more time with her large family on weekends.
Second, the claim that the Belgian prosecutor cannot arrest von der Leyen inside EU buildings is not entirely accurate. EU buildings in Brussels, including the Berlaymont, are on Belgian sovereign territory and are not considered embassies with full immunity. Belgium maintains criminal jurisdiction over any offenses occurring within these buildings. However, under Protocol No. 7 on the privileges and immunities of the EU, Belgian authorities must obtain the European Commission’s consent before carrying out investigative actions inside the premises.
This does not make von der Leyen untouchable. If there is evidence of a criminal offense, Belgian prosecutors can open investigations and request the lifting of institutional immunity. Additionally, the Pfizergate investigation has focused on allegations of corruption involving EU funds, and the case has been referred to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office‑ (EPPO). This office can arrest officials even within EU buildings, requesting the removal of immunity when necessary for criminal acts that harm the ‑EU’s financial interests.
Although the claim that she is avoiding arrest is false, it is true that legal investigations and proceedings have occurred regarding von der Leyen’s communications with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla concerning COVID-19 vaccine contracts. An EU court found that von der Leyen breached transparency rules by failing to provide requested text messages.
However, these procedures are civil and administrative, not criminal cases leading to an arrest warrant. No individual has been charged in relation to the criminal case under investigation by the EPPO. Therefore, the claim that von der Leyen is attempting to evade arrest by Belgian authorities is not supported by facts.
