Ex-MEP Arena’s son and 14 others arrested in international drug bust
Ugo Lemaire, son of Belgian former Socialist MEP Marie Arena, has been arrested in a major international investigation into alleged cannabis trafficking.
Corruption
Latest reporting and analysis on corruption.
‘Western companies make billions selling oil tankers to Russia,’ report claims
Western shipowners have earned billions by selling tankers to Russia’s shadow fleet, helping Moscow circumvent European Union sanctions and keep its war economy…
German vice-chancellor’s brother under fire for alleged public funds ‘mismanagement’
The younger brother of Germany’s vice-chancellor and economics minister Robert Habeck (Greens), has come under fire for alleged wasteful spending of taxpayer money.
EU Socialists fined for ‘funding UK Labour Party’
A left-wing think-tank connected to the Socialist faction in the European Parliament, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), has been fined €35,960.
Polish PM Tusk’s MPs vote for detention of ex-justice minister in Pegasus case
The Polish parliamentary committee investigating the purchase and use of Pegasus spyware by the former Conservative (PiS) government has voted to have former PiS…
France hands over last army base in Chad
The French army has handed over its last military base near Chad's capital N'Djamena to the country's authorities following a military ceremony.
Swedish government admits beiing “out of control” on crime
After over 30 explosions and several fatal shootings in the first month of the year, the Swedish government admitted the country was suffering from a new wave of…
Dutch police arrests three over theft of priceless Romanian gold masterpieces
Dutch police have arrested three suspects over the theft of golden archaeological masterpieces from Romania.
Committee says Qatargate investigations ‘all above board’
A Belgian intelligence board has stated that the methods of information gathering used by the Belgian intelligence and security agency (VSSE) in the context of the…
EPPO indicts suspected ‘€297m VAT fraud’ ring-leader
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has filed an indictment in Latvia against the suspected ringleader of the latest large-scale alleged VAT fraud scheme…
Serbian PM Vučević resigns amid mass protests and corruption allegations
Serbia's Prime Minister Miloš Vučević has announced his resignation, stating he did not want to fuel social tensions further after protests engulfed the country.
Polish PM Tusk’s anti-PiS legal policy sees alleged killer’s conviction overturned
A court of appeal in Poland has overturned a life sentence for an alleged serial killer originally convicted of having murdered three women in order to take control…
Protests erupt as Greeks accuse authorities of Tempi train tragedy cover-up
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered on January 26 outside the Greek Parliament in Athens, demanding justice for the 57 victims of the 2023 Tempi train disaster.
Focus moves on to Timmermans’ honorary degrees after ‘shadow lobbying’ scandal
Former Brussels 'green' chief Frans Timmermans received an honorary doctoral degree from the Dutch Technical University of Delft after the European Commission authorised…
Dutch subsidies to fight radical Islam allegedly ‘went to Moroccan cheese factory’
Funds from the city of Rotterdam intended to combat the radicalisation of Islamic youth were allegedly misappropriated and diverted for years to invest in a cheese…
Afghan alleged killer remained as refugee in German due to ‘admin error’, media reports
An Afghan who is alleged to have killed two people in Germany was in the country due to an "administrative error", German media has reported.
Polish opposition proposes limit on Ukrainians’ rights to child benefit
Poland’s opposition Conservatives (PiS) party has submitted a parliamentary bill aiming to restrict the eligibility of Ukrainian families for the country’s main…
EC ‘paid shadow lobby to promote own green policies’, Dutch newspaper claims
Secret contracts between the European Commission and "green" NGOs were part of an alleged "shadow lobbying scheme", Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has reported.
Sex allegations against German Greens MP Gelbhaar ‘fabricated’, news outlet admits
Allegations of sexual misconduct against German Greens MP Stefan Gelbhaar have been retracted after a news outlet that published them admitted they were probably…
Qatargate: Former MEP Arena charged with ‘criminal organisation’ membership
Belgian authorities have indicted former MEP Marie Arena for alleged membership of a criminal organisation following a two-year investigation into "Qatargate".
Bank of former EU Commissioner Reynders in suspicious funds probe
The Dutch bank ING is under investigation by Belgium's central bank over its handling of potential money laundering activities by former European Commissioner for…
Hungary’s Orbán backs US-sanctioned head of secret service
US sanctions against Antal Rogan, head of Hungary's secret service, have sparked controversy but also solidified his role within Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government,…
Tusk’s government to indict Conservative ex-PM over attempt to hold postal ballot
Poland’s justice minister Adam Bodnar has asked parliament to lift the immunity of former Conservative (PiS) prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, so he could face…
Imperialism not a replacement for good governance, it is its consequence
In this third and final part of our series on neo-Imperialism I would like to start with the most important observation: Successful and lasting imperialism is a…
Incidents across Italy’s rail network lead to suspicions of sabotage
Magistrates of the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office are investigating a series of incidents on the Italian railways suspecting potential sabotage.
Greece: corrupt elites bring a nation to its knees, Brussels beware
The numbers from Eurostat’s 2024 report are indisputable and grim: While politicians spin tales of recovery and progress, the cold, hard data tells a very different…
Censorship fog descends on Europe, world cut off
A performative fury erupted across Europe when the dread Elon Musk not only endorsed Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), but agreed to host an extended interview…
Zero evidence: the bogus ‘intelligence’ behind Romania’s cancelled election
On 6 December 2024 Romania’s Constitutional Court (CCR) cancelled the country’s presidential election while runoff voting was already underway in the diaspora.
US Ambassador to Hungary commits “a low-level slander” as he leaves
I need to write about David Pressman, the outgoing US ambassador to Hungary. This is an unpleasant job.
Polish Government denies corruption allegations regarding visas for Filipinos
The Polish foreign ministry has denied allegations in the Philippines that appointment slots for Polish visas were being sold at exorbitant rates in the South East…