Europe News

Big tech, banking: Who are the biggest spenders on EU lobbying?

The world’s largest companies and trade associations from the big tech, banking, energy, and chemicals/agri sectors have significantly increased their EU lobbying budgets in recent years.

24 February 2025

Europe News

European Ombudsman opens new revolving door probe

The EU watchdog responsible for investigating maladministration is probing the European Commission's approval of Nicholas Banasevic, a former high-ranking EU antitrust official, joining Microsoft in a senior role dealing with competition and regulatory affairs.

20 February 2025

USA

Trump and Musk defend cutting federal programs under DOGE

Musk claimed that the two spoke daily and had frequent conversations about where the South African-born billionaire should concentrate his efforts within the government.

12 February 2025

Europe News

Corruption is getting worse in the EU, says Transparency International

Hungary was the worst performing EU country in the NGO's annual Corruption Perceptions Index, while Denmark scored the best.

11 February 2025

Brussels, My Love?

Brussels, my love? What was there to be merry about in 2024?

In this Christmas edition, we look back at a politically turbulent year dominated by elections, and ask if it's possible to have a sustainable festive season.

21 December 2024

Europe News

Ex-Portuguese Justice Minister Anjinho elected EU ombudsman

Teresa Anjinho, a human rights lawyer who previously served as Portugal's deputy ombudsman, has gained MEPs' support to succeed Ireland's Emily O'Reilly probing maladministration in the EU bureaucracy.

17 December 2024

Europe News

Four things to know from the hearings to be EU Ombudsman

In hearings held on Tuesday, six candidates battled to win MEPs' favour and be elected EU Ombudsman. Even for this neutral role, politics is never very far from the surface.

3 December 2024

Europe

Jourová: financial sanctions key to countering rule of law abuses

Financial sanctions are the EU's best tool for bringing member states to compliance, despite their length, outgoing European Commissioner Vera Jourová told Euronews in exclusive interview.

26 November 2024

Europe News

Modern, stubborn, on the streets: the Dutch candidate for EU ombudsman

Reinier van Zutphen is one of six candidates from Estonia to Portugal vying to replace Emily O'Reilly, who's responsible for probing maladministration among EU bureaucrats for over a decade.

22 November 2024

Europe News

EU watchdog candidates complain their own recruitment is faulty

Hopefuls to replace Emily O’Reilly probing EU maladministration are discovering what life is like at the sharp end of Brussels bureaucracy.

28 October 2024

Europe News

Who will be the EU bureaucrats’ next watchdog?

Ireland’s Emily O’Reilly, who’s been responsible for probing maladministration in EU institutions since 2013, is stepping down. The six candidates hoping to replace her face an uphill struggle for support – and to define what the role is for.

18 October 2024

Europe

Has the EU become more transparent? Sort of, EU ombudswoman says

To start off the week, Radio Schuman talks about the European Commission’s culture of secrecy as seen by the EU ombudswoman, who has pushed for new standards of openness and transparency in EU institutions.

30 September 2024

Tech News

Ombudsman slams Commission for secrecy around child sexual abuse law

The Commission has been accused of "maladministration" for refusing to release documents.

18 July 2024

Europe News

Budapest denies its newly-formed agency is intimidating civil society

The Sovereignty Protection Office has the power to gather information on any groups or individuals that benefit from foreign funding and influence public debate, and Hungary’s secret services can assist in its investigations.

15 July 2024

Tech News

Companies see backlog in DSA transparency database

Registering online platforms to take months, EU Commission says.

24 June 2024

Europe News

Lawmakers ban foreign ad sponsoring three months before EU vote

The rules will add to measures already in place for online platforms under the Digital Services Act.

27 February 2024

Economy

Which is Europe’s most corrupt country?

Transparency International has released its latest report about anti-corruption efforts in Western Europe and the EU.

30 January 2024

Earth News

World’s most influential companies ‘lag behind’ on sustainability

Experts say it doesn't pay enough to lead on sustainability, and it doesn't cost enough to lag behind.

18 January 2024

Business

Anti-money laundering talks collapse amid rifts on football

Legislators have agreed on the shape of a new money laundering agency — but not its location, nor the rulebook it will follow

13 December 2023

Europe News

Foreign influence law will not criminalise or discriminate, EU says

The European Commission has defended its controversial plans to step up the fight against covert foreign influence with stringent new transparency rules for foreign-backed lobbies.

12 December 2023