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Simon Van Dorpe

@simonvandorpe.bsky.social
1.6K followers 490 following 152 posts

Investigative Journalist at @FollowtheMoney.bsky.social. Covering EU affairs, with a focus on anti-fraud, corruption and industrial policy. DM or email on simon.van.dorpe@ftm.eu

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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 07/10/2026
EU lawmakers are flying farther and more often – even to Singapore to study transparency. But their own travel costs remain unclear. As expenses soar, questions are growing over what taxpayers are actually getting in return for these trips.
ftm.eu
The unknown cost of EU lawmakers’ transparency trip
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
How embarrassing 😳
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
How Ursula von der Leyen left civil society out of her speech on a new vision for Europe. Today in the @ftm.eu newsletter www.ftm.eu/articles/wha...
ftm.eu
What von der Leyen left out of her Congress of Europe pitch
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
🔥NEW in @ftm.eu's newsletter🔥 EU prosecutors challenged the decision of the European Parliament to shield Bulgarian lawmaker and @juri.europarl.europa.eu chair Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew Europe) from criminal prosecution before the EU’s General Court. Read more: www.ftm.eu/articles/exp...
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The EU is working on a law to curb some of the video gaming industry’s most controversial practices. But the sector’s lobbyists are fighting back against the proposed rules, and have found an influential ally within Brussels. New story with Yannic Hannebohn/Die Zeit: www.ftm.eu/articles/tec...
ftm.eu
Tech giants fight EU crackdown on video games that push children to spend
The EU is working on a law to curb some of the video gaming industry’s most controversial practices. Campaigners warn that children are especially vulnerable to gambling-like features designed to enco...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
And in case you missed it yesterday: Check out @peterteffer.bsky.social's great deep dive into the dubious ethics surrounding the EU’s flagship innovation network: www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...
ftm.eu
Booze, bonuses, and wasted money plague EU’s €6bn bet on innovation
The EU’s flagship innovation network has received billions of euros to develop solutions to major societal challenges. But Follow the Money found evidence of wasteful spending, weak governance, and po...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
🔥 @ftm.eu's crime and corruption newsletter is back today, with: ✅ The party politics behind the EU’s foreign policy power struggle ✅ Why a clash between two EU watchdogs is heading to Europe’s top court And much much more, read it on our website or subscribe: www.ftm.eu/articles/the...
ftm.eu
The EPP eyes one of Brussels’ last power centres
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 10/08/2026
He appeared to be the model high-achiever. Now, he’s accused of gambling away millions from a Baltic investment fund. As the European Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) turns five, we explore some of its most remarkable cases, with this week: a successful Lithuanian fund manager who had everybody fooled.
ftm.eu
The Lithuanian fund manager, the casino scandal, and the missing €42 million
This summer, as the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has turned five, FTM revisits some of its biggest, weirdest, and most vital fraud cases. This instalment: the BaltCap gambling scandal.
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 27/07/2026
To protect Europe from Russia, Estonia is getting a new munitions factory. The builder: a Turkish arms manufacturer with an explosive reputation. Why was the country chosen for this company?
ftm.eu
This arms manufacturer was jailed in Brussels. Now Estonia is welcoming his investment
As Estonia moves to increase munitions production amid threats from Moscow, a mining town is pinning its hopes on a €300-million investment by a controversial Turkish arms manufacturer.
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I went for the stunning and innovative design by Jan Robert Dünnweller (F). I also like the birds, but they seem to come with EU institutions ;)
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Dat was gisteren 🙃
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 15/07/2026
To be clear: This is funding for what the State Department calls "civilizational allies" - MAGA-aligned people and parties in Europe, who share their disdain for human rights and their preference for ethnically pure societies and a totally unregulated internet
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Lise Witteman @lise-witteman.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
If you're active in the Brussels bubble, you might have bumped into this EU veteran. Now, you'll know his story. Meet the talented Mr. Rübig www.ftm.eu/articles/aus...
ftm.eu
Meet the Austrian businessman harnessing the far-right to cut Europe’s green laws
Over the course of 30 years, the Austrian entrepreneur Paul Rübig has built up a network that reaches deep into the European bureaucracy. In part benefiting from a shift to the right in the political ...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Als het regent in Washington, dan druppelt het in Brussel #reflectingpool #beurs
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Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Anytime any respectable journalist mentions our two chief negotiators with Iran, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, they should note both receive sizeable paychecks from Middle Eastern nations with deep equities in these talks. It is a fundamental corruption.
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Transparency International EU @transparency-eu.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
The far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE) group has allegedly misspent almost €280,000 in EU funds.
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
News alert: Ursula von der Leyen’s in hot water over text messages once again! Just earlier this month, the European Ombudsman told her not to auto-delete texts. Today, the watchdog is opening an inquiry into how VDL handled a confidential group chat with Starmer, Zelensky, Macron and other leaders.
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
The request to waive the immunity was filed in April Last year, it took the EP over a year to assess it. It was rejected in plenary last week, on June 16 (and then some MEPs complain about slow proceedings in Belgium)
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
🕵️ A @europarl.europa.eu vote to shield 3 MEPs from criminal scrutiny risks calling into question Belgium's role to investigate bribery and foreign interference in Brussels. ➡️@ftm.eu's newsletter with reactions from @davidcormand.bsky.social and @repasi.bsky.social www.ftm.eu/articles/cri...
ftm.eu
Criminal investigation into Huawei lobbying gets torpedoed
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 17/06/2026
European prosecutors are investigating InnoEnergy, an EU-backed clean tech investor that has received €760 million in public funding. The probe follows a complaint by an entrepreneur who was once backed by the organisation and now alleges financial irregularities and fraud.
ftm.eu
EU prosecutors investigate clean tech investor over suspected fraud
European prosecutors are investigating InnoEnergy, an EU-funded sustainable tech company. The case was brought by an entrepreneur who had received support from the company, but later suspected it was ...
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
The big news of today's #Huaweigate vote was NOT that @europarl.europa.eu lifted the immunity of Fulvio #Martusciello ⚡ but that it refused to waive the immunity of 3 other MEPs, saying there could be "fumus persecutionis" meaning Belgian prosecutors would've tried to politically damage MEPs 🧵 ⤵️
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
@ftm.eu @juri.europarl.europa.eu @transparency-eu.bsky.social @alemanno.bsky.social @danielfreund.bsky.social @alistairkeepe.bsky.social
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
⚖️ Belgium could attack this decision in front of the EU General Court, inviting it to clarify under what circumstances the EP can refuse to waive the immunity
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
⁉️ But these same 3 arguments equally apply to the other MEPs involved. 👉 The only reason they kept their immunity: the EP found that the evidence did not carry enough weight
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
In the case of Fulvio Martusciello, on the contrary, the EP says ✅ the investigation concerned many individuals, not only FM; ✅ the request stems from a wider corruption probe and "does not appear to target his political activity"; ✅ it found no evidence of fumus persecutionis.
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
The EP does not provide evidence for this alleged political motivation, but derives it from "the considerable uncertainty as to the various elements of this case". 🤔 In other words: MEPs assess the evidence, don't find it convincing and conclude there must be a political motivation.
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
This is remarkable, because: 🚫 the 🇪🇺 Parliament (or the Commission) never questioned the independence of the 🇧🇪 judiciary 🚫 the Parliament builds a serious allegation on thin factual ground (next slide!)
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
The big news of today's #Huaweigate vote was NOT that @europarl.europa.eu lifted the immunity of Fulvio #Martusciello ⚡ but that it refused to waive the immunity of 3 other MEPs, saying there could be "fumus persecutionis" meaning Belgian prosecutors would've tried to politically damage MEPs 🧵 ⤵️
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Indy Auntie @indyauntie.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Tim Miller nailed it: "What a way to celebrate America 250 and the twilight of liberal democracy." 😢
Tweet from Tim Miller: “Michelle Obama is a man” shouted on the White House lawn in a ring sponsored by Bud Light only available on Larry Ellison’s Paramount Plus. What a way to celebrate America 250 and the twilight of liberal democracy.
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Now updated with statements of European chief prosecutor Laura KövesI and Transparency International ⚡️
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 10/06/2026
In a rare clash between two EU watchdogs, the EPPO has emerged victorious. The bloc’s independent prosecutor sued the ECA for refusing to allow a dozen of its staff to testify in an ongoing fraud investigation involving the institution’s former president, Klaus-Heiner Lehne.
ftm.eu
EU financial watchdog cannot shield its staff from fraud probe, court rules
A court ruling against the European Court of Auditors (ECA) could strengthen the hand of EU prosecutors, and make it harder for Brussels institutions to push back against criminal investigations into ...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
In a rare clash between two EU watchdogs, EU prosecutors emerged victorious. The EPPO sued the European Court of Auditors for refusing to allow a dozen of its staff to testify in an ongoing fraud probe involving the ECA’s former president. www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-... Full story on @ftm.eu
ftm.eu
EU financial watchdog cannot shield its staff from fraud probe, court rules
A court ruling against the European Court of Auditors (ECA) could strengthen the hand of EU prosecutors, and make it harder for Brussels institutions to push back against criminal investigations into ...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Indeed, that was the procedure used here
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
NEW: The Moroccan Banque Central Populaire (BCP) today reached a €175 million (‼️) settlement with Belgian prosecutors, who were investigating the bank and its French subsidiary, Chaabi Bank, over alleged illegal banking activities in Belgium. Read more on @ftm.eu www.ftm.eu/articles/mor...
ftm.eu
Moroccan bank pays €175 million to settle Belgian criminal investigation
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
⚡ EU watchdog warns against mass deletion of leaders' texts📱 Ursula von der Leyen is under fire once again over her texting. This time, the European Ombudsman told the Commission chief to stop auto-deleting her texts with EU leaders. Read the scoop (gift link): www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...
ftm.eu
EU watchdog says von der Leyen must not auto-delete texts
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Louis Drounau @louisdrounau.eudemocracy.eu · 28/05/2026
The Europe of Sovereign Nations party risks being banned for failing to uphold EU values -- a bombshell development in the quiet world of #europeanparties. Is this acceptable? Is this censorship? Here is a thread to know more.. in only 38 posts! 👇 1/38 via @politico.eu and @maxgriera.bsky.social
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Alexander Fanta @alexfanta.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Tony Blair, who once led Britain into Iraq, is quietly trying to sell Trump’s Gaza to European governments. Here's how that is going (🎁 link): www.ftm.eu/articles/ton...
ftm.eu
This is how Tony Blair became Trump’s Gaza salesman in Europe
Former UK leader Tony Blair has become a key player in Donald Trump’s plans for post-war Gaza. Blair is using his contacts and his non-profit to lobby European policymakers in a bid to build support for the US president’s Board of Peace, FTM has found.
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
In case you missed our article about Manfred Weber’s (big fat Greek) raid on the European People’s Party, I just discussed it with @emmaduchatinier.bsky.social for the @ftm.eu podcast ⤵️
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle @raquelgarciaher.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
If the Greek government is sincere about leaving no stone unturned, it would not shut out EPPO from a case that people deeply care about. Mitsotakis actively avoids EPPO involvement, and I wonder what @eppgroup.bsky.social thinks of this. Justice is not about protecting your own.
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Lars Bové @larsbove.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Twee Amerikanen zijn veroordeeld tot een schadevergoeding van 13,3 miljoen euro omdat ze de Belgische schatkist voor een monsterbedrag hebben opgelicht. Al sinds 2018 onderzoekt @tijd.be met buitenlandse media zoals @ftm.eu / @simonvandorpe.bsky.social de #CumExFiles. www.tijd.be/politiek-eco...
tijd.be
Amerikanen lichten Belgische staatskas voor miljoenen op
Twee Amerikanen zijn veroordeeld tot een schadevergoeding van 13,3 miljoen euro omdat ze de Belgische schatkist voor een monsterbedrag hebben opgelicht. Ze lieten zich geld uitbetalen terwijl ze daar ...
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 08/05/2026
They claimed millions in tax refunds for dividends that had never been paid out. Now, two American tax specialists have been convicted of defrauding the Belgian state. According to the judges, they forged documents to claim back dividend tax on Belgian shares, even though they had never owned them.
ftm.eu
Belgium convicts key figures in global tax fraud scandal
A Belgian court has handed down the latest convictions in the global CumEx scandal, sentencing two US tax specialists over a dividend fraud scheme. The pair will also face trial in Denmark, as part of...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Check also the article in @tijd.be today, by the great @larsbove.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/tijd...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
💸 Reclaiming dividend tax on shares they never owned. That is how 2 American financiers ripped 🇧🇪 off in the latest "CumEx" tax fraud case. The court ordered them to pay 13,3 million plus interests in damages. But their biggest trial (in Denmark) is yet to come... www.ftm.eu/articles/bel...
ftm.eu
Belgium convicts key figures in global tax fraud scandal
A Belgian court has handed down the latest convictions in the global CumEx scandal, sentencing two US tax specialists over a dividend fraud scheme. The pair will also face trial in Denmark, as part of...
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Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money EU @ftm.eu · 05/05/2026
Record losses or not: InnoEnergy kept rewarding its leadership with bonuses. Its CEO and CFO have received almost €4 million on top of their salaries, raising “moral reservations” with experts. The EU-backed clean tech fund has come under scrutiny before for making “fishy” climate claims.
ftm.eu
EU-funded clean tech firm pays huge bonuses despite record losses
EU-backed clean tech investor InnoEnergy has awarded its CEO and CFO nearly €4 million in bonuses and other benefits since 2010, even in recent years when it suffered record losses. In some instances,...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
🔥 More details about Didier Reynders' alleged money laundering: "The transactions involved 245 cash deposits made between 2001 and 2017, worth a combined €836,500, as well as 779 e-Lotto transfers between 2017 and 2024 amounting to more than €202,000." 👀
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Third outstanding question @europarl.europa.eu : ✅ Were there suspicions of possible criminal activity and, if so, why have these not been forwarded to European prosecutors?
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Second outstanding question @europarl.europa.eu @eppofficial.bsky.social : ✅ Has there been funding of a national party by an EU party? One consultant was working for both parties, received very high fees at the EPP and said his work for the Greek Prime Minister was in “voluntary capacity”.
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
First outstanding question @europarl.europa.eu @eppofficial.bsky.social : ✅ Have the rules been followed in awarding these megacontracts to the Greek consultants, who, just like the EPP’s Secretary General, were close to the New Democracy party?
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
And a link to our article from yesterday, ICYMI www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...
ftm.eu
Top EU party spent €100k a month on two consultants – with little to show for it
After Manfred Weber took over as president, the European People’s Party hired two advisors with deep connections to Greece's ruling party, racking up over half a million euros in costs for the EU part...
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Simon Van Dorpe @simonvandorpe.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
“The European Parliament refused to reimburse the costs, but where is the investigation?” Reactions to yesterday's revelations about EPP consultants from MEPs @chloe-ridel.fr (S&D), @raquelgarciaher.bsky.social (Renew) and Greens co-chair @vulatsetsi.bsky.social www.ftm.eu/articles/eu-...
ftm.eu
EU lawmakers slam top EU party over costly consultants
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