Max Griera

Belgian authorities mixed up EU lawmaker with namesake in Huawei bribery probe Mix-up is the second blunder in the Belgian prosecutors’ Huawei cash-for-influence investigation.

Hey Simon!

Let’s have a coffee soon. In the meantime:

1- We have our own sources, obviously. If we cant build on each others reporting bc thats copying, we have a problem.
2- You are duly mentioned in the actual piece. Hope you get a minute to read it.

Cheers,

www.politico.eu/article/belg...

Von der Leyen hopes her caring, sharing side will win round critics The European Commission president faces another set of no-confidence votes on Thursday. She hopes that by listening more, she’ll bolster her support.

Von der Leyen's new three-step strategy for convincing opponents to back her underscores a more cooperative tone and a willingness to engage rather than confront.
Read more in this story with @maxgriera.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

Orbán vs. von der Leyen: Budapest Pride takes center stage in Europe’s culture war Dozens of prominent European politicians are heading to Hungary for Pride, but the country’s conservative government insists the parade is illegal.

More than 70 MEPs will attend Budapest Pride on Saturday, despite the 🇭🇺 govt's claim that the event is illegal.
However, organizers found a legal loophole, rendering PM Viktor Orbán's efforts to ban the LGBTQ event ineffective. Read here w/ @maxgriera.bsky.social : www.politico.eu/article/orba...

EU Parliament creates official body to probe NGO funding It’s the latest of a series of moves by right-wing forces to increase scrutiny of nonprofits.

🚨NEW: the European Parliament will set up a working group to probe EU-funded NGOs, in move that saw the EPP side once again with the right-wing and far-right groups.

W/ @maxgriera.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...

Belgium bugged Anderlecht football stadium to spy on Huawei MEP lobbying Dramatic revelations shed fresh light on investigation into whether Chinese tech firm tried to buy influence in EU politics.

⚽️Huawei corruption scandal:
- Belgian authorities bugged VIP corporate box at Anderlecht football stadium held by Huawei
- Box was used to make first contact and “grease” MEPs
- Club spox said they have “no intention” to renew contract with Huawei

Read more👇

www.politico.eu/article/belg...

Belgium bugged Anderlecht football stadium to spy on Huawei MEP lobbying Dramatic revelations shed fresh light on investigation into whether Chinese tech firm tried to buy influence in EU politics.

Belgian security agents bugged a corporate box at the RSC Anderlecht football stadium that was being used by Chinese tech giant Huawei to schmooze members of the European Parliament.

Manfred Weber anoints Spanish MEP as second-in-command at the EPP Dolors Montserrat as the new secretary-general is a surprising choice, say critical party insiders.

European People’s Party President Manfred Weber announced he would nominate Spain’s People’s Party European lawmaker Dolors Montserrat as secretary-general of the EPP.

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. 👇

Fact-check: Did the EU Commission really pay NGOs to lobby for the Green Deal? Confidential contracts seen by POLITICO do not tend to support claims that the executive paid green groups to lobby on its behalf.

What's behind the EPP's shadow lobbying accusations?

My colleagues @maxgriera.bsky.social @l-guillot.bsky.social, @elisabraun.bsky.social and I spent some time rummaging through grant contracts between the European Commission and NGOs to find out the truth.

Enjoy!
www.politico.eu/article/fact...

Orbán, Le Pen to hold ‘Make Europe Great Again’ rally in Madrid Patriots party prepping up grand far-right lovefest.

🚨 Patriots for Europe party to hold grand lovefest in Madrid, Saturday 8 February

🇭🇺Viktor Orbán, 🇫🇷Marine Le Pen, and 🇪🇸Santiago Abascal are attending

www.politico.eu/article/hung...

🧐📑Final draft of @Europarl_EN new staff rules on declaring meetings with third country reps and lobbysts

- No need to declare name of person
- Not mandatory for political groups’ staff
- Affects sec gen and all managers

🔥➡️Check it out in today’s EU Influence @elisabraun.bsky.social

EU lawmakers left and right rush to secure line to Trump’s US The far right has made the running so far but mainstream parties hope to increase contact.

European Parliament members decided today to send a delegation to Washington on April 9-11 to strengthen relations with their US counterparts ahead of what they think could be a rocky Trump administration.

EU lawmakers left and right rush to secure line to Trump’s US The far right has made the running so far but mainstream parties hope to increase contact.

‼️🇺🇸Scoop-Group of MEPs from EPP, S&D, Renew in line to visit Washington on 9-11 April to strenghten dialogue with US lawmakers

➡️EP wants to boosted ties w/ congress so Trump “rhethoric remains rhethoric and to make the transatlantic relationship work.”

www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...

VDL’s Davos D-Day Presented by Coalition for App Fairness By SARAH WHEATON PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Tweet @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @EddyWax | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser HOWDY. Sarah Wheaton h…

MORE POSTQATARGATE REFORMS:The EU Parliament admin managers, from team leaders to almighty directors general, will have to declare meetings with third-country representatives & lobbyists, as per internal note. VPs will adopt rules after consulting staff committees

⬇️
www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...

Elon Musk’s man in the European Parliament Independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou met the billionaire in 2023 and has taken his line on some big political issues, from Ukraine to digital rules.

YouTube influencer Fidias Panayiotou is a member of the European Parliament who has become a kindred spirit of Elon Musk, via @maxgriera.bsky.social and @egreechee.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/elon...

Trump’s sliding Ukraine deadline Presented by G42 By SARAH WHEATON with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Tweet @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @EddyWax | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser HOWDY. You made it to …

Parliament President Metsola has invited Commission EVP Virkunnen to discuss potential Musk-X debate in plenary with political group leaders on Wednesday, during a closed door meeting

www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...

Euroscepticism looms over future Dutch government

🗳 💡 No matter what happens in Dutch election, future government in 🇳🇱 is bound to be more Eurosceptic due to irruption of centre-right NSC and skyrocketing of far-right PVV

Both Eurosceptic, one or the other will govern

Here's their views👇
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

🚨4 Polish MEPs - from PiS and ‘Suwerenna Polska’ - have lost their immunity this morning, and will be criminally prosecuted for inciting hate against migrants in Poland

Read the whole story⬇️
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

📢📒New EU political ads rulebook:

- Ban on foreign-sponsored ads 3 months before election, referendum
- Commission-led repository with all online ads and related info
- Data use 4 targeting limited, banned 4 minors
- Labelling
- Applies Spring '24, after EU election

www.euractiv.com/section/elec...

EU Parliament resurrects spyware discussion with second inquiry committee on the horizon

The rapporteur for 1st spyware recommendations by EU Parliament, @sophieintveld.bsky.social, proposes to set up a 2nd PEGA inquiry -preferably before EU election- to keep investigating new developments & keep pressuring EU Commission, writes @maxgriera.bsky.social.

www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Bulgaria tops global rule of law progress, Greece hits bottom

Bulgaria becomes the global 2023 rule of law champion with 1.7% improvement in its rating from 2022 thanks to wide reforms - which is likely going to be used by Sofia to get 🇳🇱 and 🇦🇹 to lift Schengen veto

Opposedly, Greece is EU country that drops most, 1.4%

www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Terry Reintke's candidacy kickstarts Greens EU elections top job race

Terry Reintke announces her candidacy for the Green's EU elections lead candidate post

Though there will be internal elections in February, it seems pretty set she will become one of the two spitzenkadidaten - given her leadership and influence

www.euractiv.com/section/elec...

Me in winter Brussels.

*A cartoon by Adam Douglas Thompson, New Yorker

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Don’t touch my money: Rich regions concerned by perspective of EU enlargement Wealthier European Union regions are concerned that enlargement could result in a reduction in cohesion funds, but the European Commission said it is still too early to start talking about money.

Wealthier European Union regions are concerned that enlargement could result in a reduction in cohesion funds, but the European Commission said it is still too early to start talking about money. Joint story with @maxgriera.bsky.social ⤵️

Austria’s longest-serving EU conservative to leave Brussels behind

Austria’s longest-serving EU conservative to leave Brussels behind www.euractiv.com/sec...

Don’t touch my money: Rich regions concerned by perspective of EU enlargement Representatives from richer regions within the EU worry that enlargement could translate into a redistribution of funding leading to less cohesion funds available for current member states. The Europe...

💸Wealthier European Union member states are concerned that enlargement could result in a reduction in cohesion funds, but the European Commission says it is still too early to start money talks⤵️

www.euractiv.com/section/econ...

Deputy PM: Belgian EU Council presidency to protect Green Deal, LGBTIQ+

🏛️📣Belgium Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter @euractiv.bsky.social: amid growing threats, Belgium will place strong focus on ensuring continuation of EU Green Deal and protection of LGBTIQ+ during EU Council presidency.

But had to cut down on ministerial meetings to fit the budget, she admits

Deputy PM: Belgian EU Council presidency to protect Green Deal, LGBTIQ+

🇧🇪 In January Belgium will take on the rotating EU Council Presidency from Spain.

@maxgriera.bsky.social has been learning more about Belgium’s priorities
🌳 European Green Deal
🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ Sex & gender rights

Read more 👇
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...

Terry Reintke top contender to lead European, German Greens in EU election Co-president of the Greens group in the EU Parliament, Terry Reintke, is the top contender to lead the German and European Greens into the EU election, which would put her in the race to become Europe...

Welcome @maxgriera.bsky.social to Bluesky! 👋

For those not in the know, Max covers political news for Euractiv. You’ll read him a lot as we near June 2024!

He reported on @terryreintke.bsky.social potentially leading the Greens into the 2024 European elections 🇪🇺
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...