Elisa Braun

Stranded in the Gulf: how European countries are scrambling to bring citizens home | Euractiv European embassies are grappling with an increasingly volatile situation

Stuck in the Gulf or waiting for someone who is?

Here’s what EU countries are doing to bring citizens home, why evacuations are slow, and what steps you should take now.

www.euractiv.com/news/strande... @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social @nicolettaionta.bsky.social @anupriyadatta.bsky.social

EU countries are preparing to allow the US to access national biometric databases – holding sensitive personal data like fingerprints and facial scans – to maintain visa-free travel to the US. The latest on the deal w/ @maximilian-henning.bsky.social

Belgian court rejects bid to halt Qatargate corruption probe | Euractiv The judges dismissed suspects’ claims that the case was legally flawed, allowing the corruption probe to proceed

Qatargate: Belgian court dismissed suspects’ claims that the case was legally flawed, allowing the corruption probe to proceed www.euractiv.com/news/belgian...

Inside Euronews: How Europe’s broadcaster became an influence network | Euractiv Conceived as Europe’s answer to CNN, the EU-funded channel has become a platform for authoritarian regimes

New report claims that after a close Orban ally bought Euronews, the TV network turned into a propaganda machine for autocratic regimes

www.euractiv.com/news/inside-...

new investigation

with @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social

This is so fucking funny dude.

new: Mogherini resigns as College of Europe rector amid fraud probe www.euractiv.com/news/mogheri...

EXCLUSIVE: Top Commission official Sannino takes early retirement amid EEAS scandal | Euractiv His departure is the first senior resignation linked to the widening investigation

EXCLUSIVE: Top Commission official takes early retirement amid EEAS scandal www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi... @nicolettaionta.bsky.social @sofiamazzanaro.bsky.social

EXCLUSIVE: Police raid EU External Action Service, College of Europe in sweeping fraud probe | Euractiv Authorities make arrests in Brussels and Bruges in the latest scandal to engulf the EU

Did the EU's bureaucrat production factory misuse the bloc's funds? Police raided several premises today!

Major scoop by our @eddywax.bsky.social and @elisabraun.bsky.social

www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...

Belgian court convicts two for EU funds misuse linked to Nigel Farage's Brexit group | Euractiv Verdict ends decade-long probe into alleged misuse of EU funds by associates of top Brexit campaigner

Belgian court convicts two for EU funds misuse linked to Nigel Farage's Brexit group www.euractiv.com/news/belgian...

new: Greek neo-Nazi Ioannis Lagos continued to receive thousands of euros from the European Parliament months after being sentenced to 13 years in prison for leading a criminal organisation. www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...

INVESTIGATION: European Parliament tells Belgian prosecutor to stay in lane on corruption probes | Euractiv A showdown over Belgium's role in policing Europe's institutions looms as Parliament pushes back on corruption probes

🚨🚨"European Parliament tells Belgian prosecutor to stay in lane on corruption probes"

Excellent investigation by @elisabraun.bsky.social on corruption, immunities, European Parliament and #bureucracy (I was fortunate to discuss some of these issues with Elisa). 🧵

www.euractiv.com/news/investi...

INVESTIGATION: European Parliament tells Belgian prosecutor to stay in lane on corruption probes | Euractiv A showdown over Belgium's role in policing Europe's institutions looms as Parliament pushes back on corruption probes

Three years after the Qatargate scandal shook the EU to its core, the European Parliament is quietly pushing back against Belgian authorities investigating allegations of wrongdoing among lawmakers. Here's why ⤵️ www.euractiv.com/news/investi...

EXCLUSIVE: EU prosecutors open probe into far-right group linked to Le Pen - Euractiv Media reports allege €4.3 million in EU funds was misused by the far-right Identity and Democracy group from 2019-2024.

EU prosecutors open probe into far-right group linked to Le Pen www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

ICYMI:

💥“Those MEPs have a PhD in corruption,” a key suspect told investigators in the Huawei probe. “The whole Parliament is corrupt. It’s sensitive, but it’s part of the system.” www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Huawei : l’affaire présumée de corruption de députés européens revient sur le devant de la scène Plusieurs médias bruxellois ont divulgué les propos tenus aux policiers par un assistant de deux eurodéputés italiens, le principal acteur du « scandale Huawei ».

Great to see our investigation featured in Le Monde! www.lemonde.fr/economie/art... cc @nicolettaionta.bsky.social

Sorry for the linkedinesque post here but I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined @euractiv.com Excited to dig deeper into EU affairs and tell the stories that matter—alongside a strong team of talented colleagues (and old friends!).

NEW: An investigation by @euractiv.com (with De Standaard & Le Vif) unveils the testimony given to police by the lobbyist at the centre of Huawei’s cash-for-influence scandal in the EU Parliament.

Via @nicolettaionta.bsky.social and our new Chief Brussels Correspondent @elisabraun.bsky.social

🚨 BREAKING: The “Pfizergate” verdict: The EU Commission was wrong to refuse the release of Ursula von der Leyen’s secret texts.

Read the developing story: ow.ly/b6aL50VSi3H

US lifts sanctions against key Orbán ally accused of corruption Penalties against Antal Rogan were “inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy interests,” says a spokesperson for top American diplomat Marco Rubio.

Corruption is the most important story in the world, part 213 www.politico.eu/article/vikt...

‘Parkinson’s is a man-made disease’ Europe’s flawed oversight of pesticides may be fueling a silent epidemic, warns Dutch neurologist Bas Bloem. His fight for reform pits him against industry, regulators — and time.

“Parkinson’s is a man-made disease.”

Europe’s flawed oversight of pesticides may be fueling a silent epidemic, warns Dutch neurologist Bas Bloem. His fight for reform pits him against industry, regulators — and time.

Superb long read by @thisisbartosz.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/bas-...

Bar chart titled "Countries report $1.3 billion recovered after the Panama Papers" shows amounts recovered by governments. Top five countries are: United Kingdom ($252.8M), Sweden ($237.2M), France ($208.5M), Spain ($175.3M) and Germany ($87.4M).

Our team has been tracking the global impact of the investigation — and the numbers keep climbing.

Belgian prosecutors probe whether Huawei paid for letter signed by 8 MEPs Authorities are looking into whether the Chinese tech giant made illegal payments for a letter defending its interests in 2021.

Huawei corruption scandal: The heat is on over a 2021 Huawei-friendly letter.

Who’s caught in the storm? Who’s facing charges? How much money changed hands?

We bring you the latest on the #Huaweigate with @elisabraun.bsky.social, @maxgriera.bsky.social and @benmunster.bsky.social. 👇

The lobbying budgets of the largest European defense companies surged around 40 percent between 2022 and 2023, a data investigation by POLITICO found. 👉 www.politico.eu/article/eu-d...

🍿 Critics responses to the EU's latest legislative package: it's halloween for NGOs and Christmas for lobbyists www.politico.eu/newsletter/p...

(we've added stars to give it a Cannes film festival twist 🎬)

💸 Three years after the war in Ukraine started, top EU defense firms have significantly increased their lobbying presence in Brussels, with a 40% increase of their budgets and expansion of their teams.

✉️ This week in EU influence, w/ @gi-coi.bsky.social www.politico.eu/newsletter/p...

Not known for political coverage, Wired takes a leading role in tracking Elon Musk's team The tech outlet Wired set up a new politics team in time for the presidential election — but its most impactful work is coming after the election is over.

Wired a gagné en deux semaines 62.500 nouveaux abonnés grâce à sa couverture acérée, et ses très nombreux scoops, sur le DOGE de Musk

apnews.com/article/elon...

World leaders head to Ukraine as Trump cozies up to Putin As Ukraine’s future hangs in the balance, world and European leaders are rallying around Kyiv.

As Donald Trump's administration turns on Ukraine, EU and world leaders will head to Kyiv on Monday to rally around President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and talk security guarantees.

EU hires Trump-linked lobbying firm to survive trade war DCI Group has worked with sanctioned organizations, the Azeri government and oil companies.

EU hires Trump-linked lobbying firm DCI Group to advise on trade — the client roster includes sanctioned organizations, the Azeri government, oil companies ... and many more.

Scoop by @elisabraun.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/eu-h...

What’s behind this sudden urge to look into green NGOs funding in Europe?

With scoop hunters @maxgriera.bsky.social, @l-guillot.bsky.social @mariannegros.bsky.social