Laura Dubois
@lauramdubois.ft.com
Journalist in Brussels for @financialtimes.com, covering EU politics and editing the Europe Express newsletter
For this story, we used AI to read more than 13,000 documents to identify which MEPs declared a conflict of interest. While dozens have side jobs overlapping with their parliamentary duties, only eight declared a conflict of interest.
With @jonathanvincent.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/0466...
With @jonathanvincent.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/0466...
Scores of MEPs hold side jobs in sectors where they steer EU laws
FT analysis identifies paid work that has not been declared as a potential conflict of interest
www.ft.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM
For this story, we used AI to read more than 13,000 documents to identify which MEPs declared a conflict of interest. While dozens have side jobs overlapping with their parliamentary duties, only eight declared a conflict of interest.
With @jonathanvincent.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/0466...
With @jonathanvincent.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/0466...
Reposted by Laura Dubois
Great work by @lauramdubois.ft.com breaking out just how much European MEPs earn in their side jobs — side jobs that often overlap with policy areas they work on in parliament.
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
Scores of MEPs hold side jobs in sectors where they steer EU laws
[FREE TO READ] FT analysis identifies paid work that has not been declared as a potential conflict of interest
on.ft.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Great work by @lauramdubois.ft.com breaking out just how much European MEPs earn in their side jobs — side jobs that often overlap with policy areas they work on in parliament.
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
Reposted by Laura Dubois
Opposition to the move from capitals that don’t want to reward the oligarch or endorse Russian court rulings could stymie efforts to pass the EU’s next package of sanctions against Moscow
Scoop with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @mjruehl.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4o7M3i9
Scoop with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @mjruehl.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4o7M3i9
EU plans to hand Deripaska-linked assets to Raiffeisen
[FREE TO READ] Some European officials worry lifting sanctions would bolster Russian retaliation against western companies
on.ft.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Opposition to the move from capitals that don’t want to reward the oligarch or endorse Russian court rulings could stymie efforts to pass the EU’s next package of sanctions against Moscow
Scoop with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @mjruehl.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4o7M3i9
Scoop with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @mjruehl.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4o7M3i9
EU capitals are discussing a proposal to lift sanctions on assets linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in order to compensate Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International for damages it had to pay in Russia.
With @mjruehl.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
on.ft.com/3WmgCo8
With @mjruehl.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
on.ft.com/3WmgCo8
EU plans to hand Deripaska-linked assets to Raiffeisen
Some European officials worry lifting sanctions would bolster Russian retaliation against western companies
on.ft.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
EU capitals are discussing a proposal to lift sanctions on assets linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in order to compensate Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International for damages it had to pay in Russia.
With @mjruehl.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
on.ft.com/3WmgCo8
With @mjruehl.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
on.ft.com/3WmgCo8
Law enforcement found €2.7mn in cash at a customs broker's office, plus €300k at his house.
EPPO believes the seized euro are profits linked to Chinese organised crime groups shipping goods into Europe without paying required duties and taxes.
www.ft.com/content/2210...
EPPO believes the seized euro are profits linked to Chinese organised crime groups shipping goods into Europe without paying required duties and taxes.
www.ft.com/content/2210...
Greek customs broker caught with €3mn cash in China-linked fraud probe
Bloc’s top prosecutor says investigation highlights ‘massive’ criminal effort to avoid taxes and duties
www.ft.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Law enforcement found €2.7mn in cash at a customs broker's office, plus €300k at his house.
EPPO believes the seized euro are profits linked to Chinese organised crime groups shipping goods into Europe without paying required duties and taxes.
www.ft.com/content/2210...
EPPO believes the seized euro are profits linked to Chinese organised crime groups shipping goods into Europe without paying required duties and taxes.
www.ft.com/content/2210...
Reposted by Laura Dubois
The EU has styled itself as a world leader in climate change policies and human rights. As we report in this morning’s Europe Express with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @andybounds.bsky.social, Brussels is not living up its own standards on both
on.ft.com/4mpUPq9
on.ft.com/4mpUPq9
Why fighting over climate plans risks leaving the EU ‘impotent’ at the UN
[FREE TO READ] Also in this newsletter: UN refugee agency warns right to asylum is ‘under threat’
on.ft.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:10 AM
The EU has styled itself as a world leader in climate change policies and human rights. As we report in this morning’s Europe Express with @lauramdubois.ft.com & @andybounds.bsky.social, Brussels is not living up its own standards on both
on.ft.com/4mpUPq9
on.ft.com/4mpUPq9
Brussels is preparing ways to use Russia’s frozen assets to back €170bn of “reparation loans” to Ukraine, using cash balances from the matured assets.
With @paolatamma.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/4585...
With @paolatamma.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/4585...
EU explores using €170bn of Russia’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine
Some capitals remain wary over ‘reparation loans’ plan, as US calls on G7 to tap Moscow’s money immobilised abroad
www.ft.com
September 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Brussels is preparing ways to use Russia’s frozen assets to back €170bn of “reparation loans” to Ukraine, using cash balances from the matured assets.
With @paolatamma.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/4585...
With @paolatamma.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/4585...
Reposted by Laura Dubois
Belgium is open to discuss riskier ways to maximise profits arising from Russian immobilised assets, provided the EU shares the legal risks, its foreign minister told @lauramdubois.ft.com and me - an option just suggested by Ursula von der Leyen in her SOTEU.
on.ft.com/4m5yFt9
on.ft.com/4m5yFt9
Belgium to soften stance on frozen Russian assets if EU shares risk
[FREE TO READ] Foreign minister warns bloc not to ‘kill the hen laying golden eggs’
on.ft.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Belgium is open to discuss riskier ways to maximise profits arising from Russian immobilised assets, provided the EU shares the legal risks, its foreign minister told @lauramdubois.ft.com and me - an option just suggested by Ursula von der Leyen in her SOTEU.
on.ft.com/4m5yFt9
on.ft.com/4m5yFt9
Reposted by Laura Dubois
This piece on the massive scale of European rearmament based on satellite images is so good that some readers think we’re doing the GRU’s work for it. on.ft.com/46OwOFn
Europe builds for war as arms factories expand at triple speed
FT radar analysis reveals historic scale of rearmament, stretching over 7mn sq metres of new development
on.ft.com
August 12, 2025 at 7:19 AM
This piece on the massive scale of European rearmament based on satellite images is so good that some readers think we’re doing the GRU’s work for it. on.ft.com/46OwOFn
Reposted by Laura Dubois
The two types of reader: those who like the story and those who think we are providing material assistance to the enemy on.ft.com/46OwOFn
August 12, 2025 at 5:58 AM
The two types of reader: those who like the story and those who think we are providing material assistance to the enemy on.ft.com/46OwOFn
Reposted by Laura Dubois
We wanted to know if the money that the EU has put into rearmament is turning into production capacity — and the answer is: yes. Industry is rearming.
Analysis of radar satellite data shows rearmament on a historic scale, stretching over 7mn sq metres of new industrial development on.ft.com/3HsEbYG
August 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM
We wanted to know if the money that the EU has put into rearmament is turning into production capacity — and the answer is: yes. Industry is rearming.
Resharing a story we worked on for several months, taking a closer look at the state of Europe’s defence industry.
Our analysis of satellite and radar images shows that Europe’s rearmament is already well under way.
With @chriscook.news and colleagues
on.ft.com/46OwOFn
Our analysis of satellite and radar images shows that Europe’s rearmament is already well under way.
With @chriscook.news and colleagues
on.ft.com/46OwOFn
Europe builds for war as arms factories expand at triple speed
FT radar analysis reveals historic scale of rearmament, stretching over 7mn sq metres of new development
on.ft.com
August 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Resharing a story we worked on for several months, taking a closer look at the state of Europe’s defence industry.
Our analysis of satellite and radar images shows that Europe’s rearmament is already well under way.
With @chriscook.news and colleagues
on.ft.com/46OwOFn
Our analysis of satellite and radar images shows that Europe’s rearmament is already well under way.
With @chriscook.news and colleagues
on.ft.com/46OwOFn
Three years ago, the EU criticised the UK's Rwanda asylum scheme as inhumane and said it broke international law.
Now, it's resuscitating those plans.
Sending asylum-seekers outside the bloc “has so much traction now”, Danish migration minister Kaare Dybvad told me.
www.ft.com/content/e38a...
Now, it's resuscitating those plans.
Sending asylum-seekers outside the bloc “has so much traction now”, Danish migration minister Kaare Dybvad told me.
www.ft.com/content/e38a...
The UK ditched its Rwanda plan. The EU is reviving it
Majority of European capitals now back outsourcing asylum outside the bloc
www.ft.com
August 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Three years ago, the EU criticised the UK's Rwanda asylum scheme as inhumane and said it broke international law.
Now, it's resuscitating those plans.
Sending asylum-seekers outside the bloc “has so much traction now”, Danish migration minister Kaare Dybvad told me.
www.ft.com/content/e38a...
Now, it's resuscitating those plans.
Sending asylum-seekers outside the bloc “has so much traction now”, Danish migration minister Kaare Dybvad told me.
www.ft.com/content/e38a...
Reposted by Laura Dubois
How NOT to prepare and present a budget proposal to ensure buy in from colleagues and eventually EU countries — who will have to foot the bill. With @henryjfoy.ft.com and @bmoens.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/c88e...
www.ft.com/content/c88e...
Von der Leyen botches €2tn EU budget proposal with chaotic infighting
Centralised and chaotic process has compromised launch of commission president’s spending plan, colleagues say
www.ft.com
July 16, 2025 at 7:53 PM
How NOT to prepare and present a budget proposal to ensure buy in from colleagues and eventually EU countries — who will have to foot the bill. With @henryjfoy.ft.com and @bmoens.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/c88e...
www.ft.com/content/c88e...
Reposted by Laura Dubois
“We take note — with a degree of surprise — of the reported intention of France to sign a bilateral readmission arrangement,” says the letter sent by Spain, Italy & three other Mediterranean countries to @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu’s chief of staff and seen by @lauramdubois.ft.com
on.ft.com/4l0D5BQ
on.ft.com/4l0D5BQ
Italy and Spain slam France over proposed migration pact with UK
[FREE TO READ] Rome and Madrid fear they will have to take back asylum seekers who cross the Channel
on.ft.com
June 27, 2025 at 12:34 PM
“We take note — with a degree of surprise — of the reported intention of France to sign a bilateral readmission arrangement,” says the letter sent by Spain, Italy & three other Mediterranean countries to @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu’s chief of staff and seen by @lauramdubois.ft.com
on.ft.com/4l0D5BQ
on.ft.com/4l0D5BQ
Reposted by Laura Dubois
💥 EU to present 18th Russian sanctions package this afternoon, including measures targeting Nord Stream, lowering the oil price cap, and giving Belgium legal safeguards over the €190bn in frozen Moscow assets held in the country
on.ft.com/3HySGKk w @lauramdubois.ft.com
on.ft.com/3HySGKk w @lauramdubois.ft.com
EU to target Nord Stream and Russian oil cap in new sanctions package
[FREE TO READ] Commission is due to present its 18th package of measures against Moscow on Tuesday
on.ft.com
June 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
💥 EU to present 18th Russian sanctions package this afternoon, including measures targeting Nord Stream, lowering the oil price cap, and giving Belgium legal safeguards over the €190bn in frozen Moscow assets held in the country
on.ft.com/3HySGKk w @lauramdubois.ft.com
on.ft.com/3HySGKk w @lauramdubois.ft.com
Trump’s planned cybersecurity cuts have been a wake-up call to the EU - which, like the rest of the world, has been relying on the US for patching vulnerabilities.
Now, the EU wants to step up, says its cyber chief. @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4mVwsSR
Now, the EU wants to step up, says its cyber chief. @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4mVwsSR
EU to ‘step up’ on cyber security as dependence on US laid bare
Temporary US funding threat to online security programme in April highlighted Europe’s reliance on Washington
on.ft.com
June 10, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Trump’s planned cybersecurity cuts have been a wake-up call to the EU - which, like the rest of the world, has been relying on the US for patching vulnerabilities.
Now, the EU wants to step up, says its cyber chief. @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4mVwsSR
Now, the EU wants to step up, says its cyber chief. @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4mVwsSR
Reposted by Laura Dubois
Israel’s Gaza aid plan could lead to ‘war crime’, UN agency chief says
https://www.ft.com/content/8f080842-1d45-4c37-8612-bc6e3c7967b1
https://www.ft.com/content/8f080842-1d45-4c37-8612-bc6e3c7967b1
Israel’s Gaza aid plan could lead to ‘war crime’, UN agency chief says
Philippe Lazzarini says ‘primary intent’ of US-backed proposal is to push population south and even out of strip
www.ft.com
May 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Israel’s Gaza aid plan could lead to ‘war crime’, UN agency chief says
https://www.ft.com/content/8f080842-1d45-4c37-8612-bc6e3c7967b1
https://www.ft.com/content/8f080842-1d45-4c37-8612-bc6e3c7967b1
London's claims that the EU-UK deal paves the way for Brits to use e-gates at airports is not entirely true.
They would have been able to anyway under the bloc's new electronic border system, expected to start in autumn.
Full story with @pickardje.bsky.social here:
on.ft.com/44Nab30
They would have been able to anyway under the bloc's new electronic border system, expected to start in autumn.
Full story with @pickardje.bsky.social here:
on.ft.com/44Nab30
Deal to let Brits skip EU passport queues would have happened without post-Brexit accord
Broader reform of European border checks that has been planned for years would allow use of ‘e-gates’
on.ft.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
London's claims that the EU-UK deal paves the way for Brits to use e-gates at airports is not entirely true.
They would have been able to anyway under the bloc's new electronic border system, expected to start in autumn.
Full story with @pickardje.bsky.social here:
on.ft.com/44Nab30
They would have been able to anyway under the bloc's new electronic border system, expected to start in autumn.
Full story with @pickardje.bsky.social here:
on.ft.com/44Nab30
Reposted by Laura Dubois
London claimed a deal to let Brits use EU electronic passport gates was a major win from this week's EU-UK Brexit "reset" summit.
That's not true - UK citizens would have got that benefit regardless
Great story from @lauramdubois.ft.com & @pickardje.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4363cRz
That's not true - UK citizens would have got that benefit regardless
Great story from @lauramdubois.ft.com & @pickardje.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4363cRz
Deal to let Brits skip EU passport queues would have happened without post-Brexit accord
[FREE TO READ] Broader reform of European border checks that has been planned for years would allow use of ‘e-gates’
on.ft.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
London claimed a deal to let Brits use EU electronic passport gates was a major win from this week's EU-UK Brexit "reset" summit.
That's not true - UK citizens would have got that benefit regardless
Great story from @lauramdubois.ft.com & @pickardje.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4363cRz
That's not true - UK citizens would have got that benefit regardless
Great story from @lauramdubois.ft.com & @pickardje.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4363cRz
„The aid plan which is being proposed is a tool which facilitates the forced displacement of the people,” Philippe Lazzarini said. “And ultimately we know that in [the] context of war, forced displacement of people may constitute [a] war crime.”
With @jamesshotter.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4jm8GN2
With @jamesshotter.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4jm8GN2
Israel’s Gaza aid plan could lead to ‘war crime’, UN agency chief says
Philippe Lazzarini says ‘primary intent’ of US-backed proposal is to push population south and even out of strip
on.ft.com
May 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM
„The aid plan which is being proposed is a tool which facilitates the forced displacement of the people,” Philippe Lazzarini said. “And ultimately we know that in [the] context of war, forced displacement of people may constitute [a] war crime.”
With @jamesshotter.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4jm8GN2
With @jamesshotter.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4jm8GN2
After the ECJ ruled Malta's "golden passport" scheme is unlawful, @joshspero.ft.com and I spoke to the man who developed it.
"Globally, it doesn’t matter at all,” said Christian Kälin about the ruling.
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/7bc6...
"Globally, it doesn’t matter at all,” said Christian Kälin about the ruling.
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/7bc6...
The man behind the rise of ‘golden passports’
Christian Kälin of Henley & Partners says landmark court ruling against selling EU citizenship scheme will not stop trend
www.ft.com
May 14, 2025 at 3:41 PM
After the ECJ ruled Malta's "golden passport" scheme is unlawful, @joshspero.ft.com and I spoke to the man who developed it.
"Globally, it doesn’t matter at all,” said Christian Kälin about the ruling.
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/7bc6...
"Globally, it doesn’t matter at all,” said Christian Kälin about the ruling.
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/7bc6...
Reposted by Laura Dubois
#Pfizergate: the court ruled in favour of
@nytimes.com saying EU commission did not explain why it could not find medsages von der Leyen exchanged with Pfizer CEO 👏 @matinastevis.bsky.social & @alexfanta.bsky.social for keeping EU commission accountable. ✍️ by @lauramdubois.ft.com shorturl.at/FJoak
@nytimes.com saying EU commission did not explain why it could not find medsages von der Leyen exchanged with Pfizer CEO 👏 @matinastevis.bsky.social & @alexfanta.bsky.social for keeping EU commission accountable. ✍️ by @lauramdubois.ft.com shorturl.at/FJoak
EU court rules against Ursula von der Leyen over missing Pfizer texts
European Commission president exchanged messages with US pharmaceutical CEO during negotiations for Covid vaccines
shorturl.at
May 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM
#Pfizergate: the court ruled in favour of
@nytimes.com saying EU commission did not explain why it could not find medsages von der Leyen exchanged with Pfizer CEO 👏 @matinastevis.bsky.social & @alexfanta.bsky.social for keeping EU commission accountable. ✍️ by @lauramdubois.ft.com shorturl.at/FJoak
@nytimes.com saying EU commission did not explain why it could not find medsages von der Leyen exchanged with Pfizer CEO 👏 @matinastevis.bsky.social & @alexfanta.bsky.social for keeping EU commission accountable. ✍️ by @lauramdubois.ft.com shorturl.at/FJoak
Reposted by Laura Dubois
BREAKING - Pfizergate ruling sees win for transparency - Judges rule that the Commission should not have misled @matinastevis.bsky.social about the existence of Ursula von der Leyen's text messages. More details forthcoming.
May 14, 2025 at 7:39 AM
BREAKING - Pfizergate ruling sees win for transparency - Judges rule that the Commission should not have misled @matinastevis.bsky.social about the existence of Ursula von der Leyen's text messages. More details forthcoming.
The EU's general court ruled against the European Commission in the landmark case about the disclosure of texts between president Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO during the Covid-19 vaccine negotiations.
An important win for @nytimes.com and other journalists.
www.ft.com/content/e928...
An important win for @nytimes.com and other journalists.
www.ft.com/content/e928...
Court rules against European Commission in Pfizer text messages case
European Commission president exchanged texts with Pfizer CEO during negotiations for Covid vaccines
www.ft.com
May 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The EU's general court ruled against the European Commission in the landmark case about the disclosure of texts between president Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO during the Covid-19 vaccine negotiations.
An important win for @nytimes.com and other journalists.
www.ft.com/content/e928...
An important win for @nytimes.com and other journalists.
www.ft.com/content/e928...