France, Spain, and the Czech Republic refused to endorse a draft letter from the Council of the EU to the European Ombudsman on the controversial issue of sponsored council presidencies, a confidential document I wrote about for EUobserver revealed. Read the article here.
EUobserver
How corporate lobbyists steer EU law-making
Corporate interests have a disproportionate influence on EU lawmaking. I saw this during my five years (2014-2019) as a staff writer and investigative journalist for EUobserver, and it is the subject of my latest book, published in the Netherlands and Belgium this week. For those who don’t speak Dutch, I wrote an essay on the topic, which EUobserver published today.
Selmayr did not want top job, says predecessor
Martin Selmayr originally had not wanted to become secretary-general of the European Commission, his predecessor revealed on Monday (27 January). My article for EUobserver.
How eight MEPs overruled 540 colleagues on office expenses
The EU parliament spends €40m a year on a lump sum for MEPs’ expenses with barely any scrutiny. A majority of parliamentarians called for more transparency – but a handful of powerful MEPs mostly dismissed that request. EUobserver.
Getting secret EU trilogue documents: a case study
How easy is it to acquire documents needed to know how EU institutions negotiate a legislative proposal? Not easy at all. Read more at EUobserver.
Katainen explains: My friend Barroso did not lobby me
Jose Manuel Barroso was not lobbying for Goldman Sachs during a meeting he had with vice-president of the European Commission Jyrki Katainen in a Brussels hotel, according to the Finnish commissioner. Read my interview with Katainen at EUobserver.
EU funds anti-terror X-ray vision and drone brains
The European Union has funded research which will eventually allow soldiers to see through walls, as well as a project that automates control of unmanned vehicles and aircraft. Read more at EUobserver.
Onderzoek naar CO2-opslag in EU
Het is een essentieel onderdeel van het behalen van klimaatdoelen, volgens wetenschappers en energieagentschappen. Maar in de praktijk is er in de Europese Unie nog niet veel terecht gekomen van CO2-opslag, oftewel carbon capture and storage (CCS). De afgelopen maanden heb ik verschillende onderzoeksartikelen geschreven voor EUobserver over het uitblijven van commerciële toepassingen van CCS in de EU. Lees verder
Useful websites for journalists covering the EU
I recently met with some students following the Europe in the World programme at the Utrecht School of Journalism. They wanted to know more about the investigation I did into the Dieselgate scandal, so I gave them some tips on how to do investigative journalism. I also prepared a document with some useful websites and how to use them, and there is not really a reason not to share this with the wider world. So if you are covering the EU, or even if you are covering local or national politics in Europe, some of the following websites may be relevant. They may be old news to the regular Brussels gang, but there may be some gems that make your life easier. First two larger sections, about 1) how to file freedom of information requests and 2) how the lifecycle of EU legislation works, followed by some specific websites
Klimaattop Bonn
Over de VN-klimaatconferentie in Bonn heb ik verschillende artikelen geschreven voor EUobserver:
US may cause ‘distraction’ at Bonn climate talks
EIB silent on report into ‘fraudulent’ VW loan
Plea for radical change outside Bonn climate talks venue
EU needs emissions deal to avoid ‘shame in Bonn’
Germany and France defend emissions trading deal
