Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 24/03/2026News on the Huawei corruption case! With @simonvandorpe.bsky.socialftm.euItalian MEP hits back at Huawei bribery allegations in battle over immunityFulvio Martusciello, an Italian member of the European Parliament (MEP), denies taking bribes in the Huawei cash-for-influence scandal, insisting that thousands of euros transferred to his account wer... 001
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 11/03/2026#Huaweigate turns one this week. A year after the scandal that rocked Brussels, this special edition of our Crime & Corruption newsletter examines where the investigation stands today, the key developments in the case, and what could come next.ftm.euHuaweigate, one year on: the latest from the scandal that rocked BrusselsFollow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism 022
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 25/02/2026⚖️ In this week’s Crime & Corruption newsletter: - The European Parliament quietly rethinks its internal spending rules - Heated fallout from the latest Qatargate ruling - Raids over a €900m Brussels property deal, plus fresh charges in the Didier Reynders probeftm.euNewsletter | New Parliament working group to review internal spending rulesFollow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism 163
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 16/12/2025⚖️As Ukraine fights a full-scale invasion, sanctioned Russian billionaires are demanding hundreds of millions in compensation – exploiting investment treaties to sue the war-torn state from courtrooms across Europe. Read the article: www.ftm.eu/articles/rus... 1119
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 24/09/2025For this week's crime & corruption newsletter I spoke to @wouterwolfs.bsky.social about the use of parliamentary immunity as a tactic to evade national scrutiny. Could it prove a viable strategy in the case of ECR MEP Daniel Obajtek, member of the Polish Law and Justice (PiS) party? 140
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 23/09/2025For @ftm.eu I interviewed the Jacques Delors Centre’s democracy expert @luisequaritsch.bsky.social on the issue of covert malign interference in the EU. Quaritsch warns that while the dangers are increasing (“it’s not just Russia or China anymore”), the EU remains “uniquely vulnerable” to threats.ftm.euEU has the power to fight foreign meddling – but isn’t using it, democracy expert saysForeign actors are intensfying their efforts to influence Europe’s democracies, and the EU is scrambling to respond. Its lawmakers are set to vote this week on creating national transparency registers... 041
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money @ftm.nl · 05/09/2025Terwijl de aarde opwarmt, slaan fossiele brandstof- en mijnbouwbedrijven terug tegen klimaatbeleid. Via schimmige tribunalen eisen ze miljarden van overheden en claimen ze ‘misgelopen winst’ als schade – met 2025 als recordjaar. Uit angst voor dure rechtszaken worden plannen afgezwakt of uitgesteld.ftm.nlMet ‘gerechtelijke terreur’ weet de olie- en gasindustrie klimaatbeleid te frustrerenWereldwijd krijgen overheden te maken met een recordaantal claims van energiebedrijven die menen de dupe te zijn van klimaatbeleid. Hun toegangsdeur naar de pot met geld is een schimmig tribunaal in W... 17746
Reposted by Alistair KeepePeter Teffer @peterteffer.bsky.social · 02/09/2025On Monday @alistairkeepe.bsky.social asked why Commission President’s Signal messages were auto-deleted. Part of the answer: to save space. On Tuesday @alexfanta.bsky.social followed up: von der Leyen has a smartphone with lots of storage, so what gives? The question was skillfully sidestepped. 054
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 28/08/20252025 is a record-breaking year for claims filed by fossil fuel and mining firms against democratic policies – marking a grim milestone in a surge of polluting industries seeking compensation for lost profits via a secretive tribunal. For @ftm.eu with contributions by ao @anilyilmaz.bsky.socialftm.euRecord number of corporate lawsuits target climate action in controversial tribunalBehind closed doors in Washington, D.C., fossil fuel and mining companies are suing governments over lost profits. Follow the Money has analysed how a system built to protect foreign investors poses a... 318994
Reposted by Alistair KeepeAlexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 15/04/2025This morning, journalists from across Europe went public with a call to the European Commission to keep the promise of the EU treaties, and actually stick to the bloc's freedom of information law. See below Politico's Brussels Playbook: www.politico.eu/newsletter/b... 29345
Reposted by Alistair KeepeCorporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 08/04/2025The EU #Transparency Register secretariat has confirmed that our complaint against MCC Brussels is admissible & that they have opened an investigation 👏 MCC Brussels, a far right 'think tank' spreading Orban regime propaganda, fails to disclose financial information, including its funding sources ⚠️ 37834
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 01/04/2025Finnish MEP Aura Salla dumped all her stocks in arms makers just one day after FTM revealed she owned them while at the same time calling for more EU defence spending. “I want to make sure there never will be a conflict of interest,” she said.ftm.euEU lawmaker gets rid of defence stocks after conflict of interest questionsA Finnish centre-right EU lawmaker sold her stocks in defence companies after concerns about conflicts of interest emerged. 08718
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 02/04/2025Today a majority of the European Parliament called for the “full and urgent” implementation of the EU Ethics Body, after the Huawei scandal added “special urgency to starting the work without delay". Rightwing groups, including EPP, are still trying to block more transparency. Article in comments. 100
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 31/03/2025Seems that the Patriots for Europe are acting on the ideas that they floated during an event in the European Parliament last week, organised together with Hungarian and Orbán-linked think tank MCC Brussels 000
Reposted by Alistair KeepePeter Teffer @peterteffer.bsky.social · 31/03/2025MEP Aura Salla is a member of the ITRE committee (the lead parliament committee drafting the rules for the €1.5 billion European Defence Industry Programme) and the owner of stocks in defence companies. She even bought more during her MEP tenure. And yet she does not see a conflict of interest. 165
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 31/03/2025And Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Salvini denouncing the “declaration of war by Brussels” while the EU obviously had nothing to do with the decision 020
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 18/03/2025HuaweiGate update: Five people have been charged in the corruption probe into Huawei lobbyists. Four suspects remain in custody as police search for evidence that representatives of the Chinese tech giant broke the law when lobbying MEPs. #HuaweiGateftm.euHuaweigate: four suspects remain in custodyFive people have been charged as part of a Belgian investigation into alleged corruption by lobbyists of the Chinese tech giant Huawei, sources close to the investigation told Follow the Money, Le Soi... 1713
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money @ftm.nl · 13/03/2025BREAKING: De Belgische politie viel vanochtend binnen bij woningen van Huawei-lobbyisten in een grootschalig corruptieonderzoek. Zij zouden Europarlementariërs hebben omgekocht om Huawei’s belangen te behartigen. In totaal werden 21 adressen doorzocht. #HuaweiGateftm.nlNieuw corruptieschandaal Europees Parlement: invallen bij lobbyisten van HuaweiIn een grootschalig corruptieonderzoek naar het Chinese Huawei deed de Belgische politie donderdagochtend invallen in woningen van lobbyisten van het techbedrijf. Ze worden onder meer verdacht van het... 35418
Reposted by Alistair KeepeAlexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 13/03/2025SCOOP: Brussels is facing a new corruption scandal. Belgian police raided 21 homes today as part of a corruption probe into Huawei’s EU lobbying. Lobbyists for the Chinese tech giant are suspected of bribing MEPs in exchange for their public support. #HuaweiGate www.ftm.eu/articles/hua...ftm.euHuawei targeted in new European Parliament corruption probeChinese tech giant Huawei is at the centre of a new corruption case in Europe’s capital. On Thursday, Belgian police raided the homes of its lobbyists, Follow the Money and its media partners Le Soir ... 38340
Reposted by Alistair KeepeTies Joosten @tiesjoosten.nl · 11/03/2025Honderden Transavia-medewerkers krijgen een ww-uitkering terwijl ze gewoon een vast contract hebben. Nieuw verhaal over de luchtvaartindustrie 👇 www.ftm.nl/artikelen/bi...ftm.nlBij Transavia overwintert personeel op kosten van het UWVHonderden werknemers van Transavia zitten jaarlijks zes weken thuis met een ww-uitkering. Ondertussen blijven ze gewoon in dienst. Experts noemen de constructie sneu en onethisch, maar het UWV zegt er... 812149
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 21/02/2025Good moment to reread colleague @jesse-pinster.bsky.social’s investigative piece on the controversial Orban-linked think tank MCC and how they operate in Brusselsftm.euViktor Orbán wants to gain influence in Brussels through a wealthy Hungarian think tankSince last year, the Hungarian Mathias Corvinus Collegium foundation has had a think tank in Brussels. According to critics and supporters, this project is an attempt by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to... 040
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money @ftm.nl · 08/02/2025Ontbossing met chloorgif, fout katoen en dwangarbeid in fabrieken. Bij de productie van Decathlon-spullen gaat veel mis. En niet per ongeluk. Uit gelekte documenten blijkt hoezeer het bedrijf stuurt op kostenverlaging. ‘Ze vechten voor elke cent.’ftm.nlChloorgif en dwangarbeid: de spotgoedkope spullen van Decathlon hebben een prijsDe productie van Decathlon-kleding gaat gepaard met grove mensenrechtenschendingen: van lage lonen tot dwangarbeid. Ook de natuur komt er slecht vanaf bij de sportketen die mensen wil stimuleren meer ... 1312670
Reposted by Alistair KeepeLise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 06/02/2025Top Decathlon supplier profits from Uyghur forced labour in China labour scheme www.ftm.eu/articles/dec...ftm.euTop Decathlon supplier profits from Uyghur forced labour in China labour schemeA key supplier for the French retailer Decathlon has benefited from forced labour involving China’s marginalised Uyghur minority as part of a state scheme, Follow the Money and media partners can reve... 001
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 04/02/2025Read the latest chapter in the Russian shadowfleet saga today for free on our website 010
Reposted by Alistair KeepeLise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 30/01/2025FTM's @simonvandorpe.bsky.social was looking for some answers after all the scandals that hit the European Investment Bank (EIB) www.ftm.eu/articles/sca... @ftm.eu He got none. newsroom.consilium.europa.eu/events/20250... Unfortunately, this seems to be the case every time with EU institutions. 173
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 18/12/2024Starting a new job at a company that borrows money from the bank you just left? At the European Investment Bank, that’s business as usual. Our analysis exposes the ever-spinning revolving door between the EIB and companies – and the conflicts of interest that come with it. www.ftm.eu/articles/the...ftm.euEuropean Investment Bank under scrutiny as top management joins private companiesFive out of ten members who left the European Investment Bank’s key decision making body since January 2019 have been involved in revolving doors scandals. The bank has not sanctioned any of them. Cur... 065
Reposted by Alistair KeepeSimon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 11/12/2024🔥 Over the past 5 months, I have been intensively scrutinizing the European Investment Bank, after news broke that former President Werner Hoyer was under investigation for corruption. Turns out it was just the tip of the iceberg. Read our story for free today on @ftm.eu www.ftm.eu/articles/sca...ftm.euBank of scandals: toxic culture of favouritism exposed at the European Investment BankThe most important bank of the European Union is plagued by scandals. A Follow the Money investigation reveals how in the top management layers of the European Investment Bank a toxic culture of favou... 22218
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 06/12/2024UPDATE in the Reynders case: he has to explain the origin of approximately one million euros to investigators, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF writes this morning. This and the five other things you need to know www.ftm.eu/articles/rey...ftm.euMoney laundering case against ex-EU justice chief Reynders: 5 things we know so farFollow the Money and Le Soir revealed on Tuesday that former EU justice chief Reynders is under investigation by the Belgian authorities for suspicions of money laundering. Here are the five latest th... 010
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 05/12/2024De vijf dingen die je moet weten over de witwaszaak rond oud-Eurocommissaris voor Justitie, Didier Reynders. www.ftm.nl/artikelen/di...ftm.nlWitwaszaak rond Didier Reynders, ex-Eurocommissaris voor Justitie: 5 dingen die we nu wetenFollow the Money en Le Soir onthulden dinsdag dat Didier Reynders, tot afgelopen zaterdag nog Eurocommissaris voor Justitie, door de Belgische politie van witwassen wordt verdacht. Wat is er precies a... 000
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Who knew European Commissioners could be so fabulous? Great video by colleague @lisannevanvucht.bsky.social 010
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 04/12/2024🚨Update on the case against ex-EU justice chief Reynders. Follow the Money and Le Soir revealed on Tuesday that former EU justice chief Reynders is under investigation by the Belgian authorities for suspicions of money laundering. The five latest things you need to know. www.ftm.eu/articles/rey...ftm.euMoney laundering case against ex-EU justice chief Reynders: 5 things we know so farFollow the Money and Le Soir revealed on Tuesday that former EU justice chief Reynders is under investigation by the Belgian authorities for suspicions of money laundering. Here are the five latest th... 000
Reposted by Alistair KeepeLise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 03/12/2024BREAK www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...ftm.euBelgian police raid homes of former EU justice chief Didier Reynders – two days after end of termDidier Reynders, until last Saturday the European Commissioner for Justice, is suspected of money laundering by the Belgian police. For about a decade, Reynders allegedly bought lottery tickets with d... 13735
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 02/12/2024Beef between EU prosecutors and the Commission over IT, a Trump-loving billionaire backing a growing think tank-cum-consultancy in Brussels, and an ex-Commissioner landing a new job – but missing a tiny detail. Read all about it in our latest newsletter! mailing.ftm.nl/index.php?ac... 063
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 02/12/2024Onze rechtsstaat ligt onder vuur. In Den Haag, maar ook in Brussel. Daarom zoekt Follow the Money 2000 nieuwe leden. Als nieuw lid draag je direct bij, sluit jij je ook aan? www.ftm.nl/tegenkracht?…ftm.nlHelp Follow the Money aan 2000 nieuwe leden in decemberOnze democratische rechtsstaat ligt onder vuur. In Den Haag, maar ook in Brussel. Daarom zoekt Follow the Money 2000 nieuwe leden in december. Als nieuw lid draag je direct bij aan ons werk, sluit jij... 000
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 29/11/2024Colleague @peterteffer.bsky.social was quick to spot this Ex-Commissioner starting a new job at an EPP-linked educational institute without informing the Commission while still in her “cooling off period”. 010
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 28/11/2024Yesterday Von der Leyen’s new Commission passed with the smallest majority (53.7 per cent) ever. Might that have something to do with her and her christian democrats breaking their elections promises? Read the story here: www.ftm.eu/articles/cor...ftm.euChristian Democrats break election promise to sideline far right in European ParliamentThe European Parliament’s biggest party, the European People’s Party, promised not to cooperate with certain far-right groups. A Follow the Money analysis shows how the Christian Democrats, led by Urs... 031
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money @ftm.nl · 26/11/2024Het kabinet liet dit jaar voor 264 miljoen euro aan militaire exporten toe naar Egypte, Indonesië en Pakistan zonder dat aan de Kamer te laten weten. Tot en met oktober van dit jaar werd de Kamer dertien keer niet geïnformeerd, terwijl dit wel moet. www.ftm.nl/artikelen/tw...ftm.nlMinister Klever verzwijgt gevoelige wapenexporten voor de Tweede KamerHet kabinet liet dit jaar militaire exporten toe naar onder meer Egypte, Indonesië en Pakistan ter waarde van 264 miljoen euro, zonder het parlement te informeren. Dit blijkt uit gezamenlijk onderzoek... 212855
Alistair Keepe @alistairkeepe.bsky.social · 25/11/2024On Mondays @followthemoney-eu.bsky.social publishes its weekly newsletter. In this edition, I went to Brussels Place Lux to check out how a vape lobbying group suspended from the EU Transparency Register is still doing some shady business. Read this and more: www.linkedin.com/pulse/shadow...linkedin.comShadow vape lobbying in BrusselsWelcome to the newsletter of Follow the Money’s EU desk, with insights from our EU specialists, news from the Brussels bubble, and the latest on our investigations! This week, we’re calling out a vape... 000
Reposted by Alistair KeepeFollow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 21/11/2024Not all is clean beneath a blue sky. We’re now here to dig deeper. 511329
