Simon Van Dorpe
@simonvandorpe.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Shilling for Trump in Brussels: A document we obtained shows how Tony Blair and his institute lobbied behind closed doors for the EU to join Trump's "Board of Peace" and put €€€ behind US- and Israeli-led Gaza reconstruction efforts.
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Shilling for Trump in Brussels: A document we obtained shows how Tony Blair and his institute lobbied behind closed doors for the EU to join Trump's "Board of Peace" and put €€€ behind US- and Israeli-led Gaza reconstruction efforts.
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
Published with Democracy for Sale, ht @lighthousereports.com
Today in @ftm.eu's crime and corruption newsletter:
⚖️ One of the EU's largest contractors has challenged its exclusion from EU tenders in court.
⚖️ NATO's procurement agency has entered 2026 under the shadow of a new corruption investigation.
⚖️ Plenty of news updates
www.ftm.eu/articles/new...
⚖️ One of the EU's largest contractors has challenged its exclusion from EU tenders in court.
⚖️ NATO's procurement agency has entered 2026 under the shadow of a new corruption investigation.
⚖️ Plenty of news updates
www.ftm.eu/articles/new...
Newsletter | Uphill court battle awaits consultancy blacklisted by the EU
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
February 11, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Today in @ftm.eu's crime and corruption newsletter:
⚖️ One of the EU's largest contractors has challenged its exclusion from EU tenders in court.
⚖️ NATO's procurement agency has entered 2026 under the shadow of a new corruption investigation.
⚖️ Plenty of news updates
www.ftm.eu/articles/new...
⚖️ One of the EU's largest contractors has challenged its exclusion from EU tenders in court.
⚖️ NATO's procurement agency has entered 2026 under the shadow of a new corruption investigation.
⚖️ Plenty of news updates
www.ftm.eu/articles/new...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Honderden miljoenen aan EU-geld werden toevertrouwd aan IBF International Consulting. Nu wordt het adviesbureau verdacht van corruptie en witwassen. De Europese Commissie trok de stekker eruit, partners stappen op en de alarmbellen luiden.
Maar hoe kon het zo ver komen?
www.ftm.nl/artikelen/eu...
Maar hoe kon het zo ver komen?
www.ftm.nl/artikelen/eu...
EU schorst adviesbureau na nieuw gesjoemel
Een adviesbureau dat bijna 350 miljoen euro aan contracten van de Europese Commissie binnenharkte, zit opnieuw in de problemen. Vanwege vermeend ‘ernstig professioneel wangedrag’ mag het bedrijf twee ...
www.ftm.nl
February 6, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Honderden miljoenen aan EU-geld werden toevertrouwd aan IBF International Consulting. Nu wordt het adviesbureau verdacht van corruptie en witwassen. De Europese Commissie trok de stekker eruit, partners stappen op en de alarmbellen luiden.
Maar hoe kon het zo ver komen?
www.ftm.nl/artikelen/eu...
Maar hoe kon het zo ver komen?
www.ftm.nl/artikelen/eu...
⚡ The European Commission has once again suspended IBF International Consulting from bidding on new EU tenders for two years due to alleged "grave professional misconduct." IBF has challenged the decision before the EU General Court. (1/3)
February 5, 2026 at 8:55 AM
⚡ The European Commission has once again suspended IBF International Consulting from bidding on new EU tenders for two years due to alleged "grave professional misconduct." IBF has challenged the decision before the EU General Court. (1/3)
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Follow the Money want to build a strong European edition that is read, trusted, and supported across Europe.
JOB ALERT: As Growth & Partnerships Manager at @ftm.eu, you will strengthen the business foundations that sustain our European journalism.
JOB ALERT: As Growth & Partnerships Manager at @ftm.eu, you will strengthen the business foundations that sustain our European journalism.
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
Radically independent investigative journalism. Our goal is crystal clear: to uncover the truth in the interest of society.
ftm.eu
January 30, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Follow the Money want to build a strong European edition that is read, trusted, and supported across Europe.
JOB ALERT: As Growth & Partnerships Manager at @ftm.eu, you will strengthen the business foundations that sustain our European journalism.
JOB ALERT: As Growth & Partnerships Manager at @ftm.eu, you will strengthen the business foundations that sustain our European journalism.
Who needs corruption indices when you can just read who signed up for Trump's peace board 🤷♂️
January 22, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Who needs corruption indices when you can just read who signed up for Trump's peace board 🤷♂️
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Telegram’s battle with European regulators could force it to hire thousands of content moderators to tackle illegal content. Documents obtained by Follow the Money show how Telegram is trying to fend off tougher oversight from Brussels.
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
January 20, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Telegram’s battle with European regulators could force it to hire thousands of content moderators to tackle illegal content. Documents obtained by Follow the Money show how Telegram is trying to fend off tougher oversight from Brussels.
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
www.ftm.eu/articles/tel...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
⚖️ Our first Crime & Corruption newsletter of 2026 is anything but quiet. This week:
Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro puts Europe in a bind over the rule of law; AI dominates talks at the UN anti-corruption conference in Doha; and Europe watches as Marine Le Pen’s appeal trial begins.
Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro puts Europe in a bind over the rule of law; AI dominates talks at the UN anti-corruption conference in Doha; and Europe watches as Marine Le Pen’s appeal trial begins.
Newsletter | Who in Europe will call out Trump’s lawlessness?
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
January 14, 2026 at 6:26 AM
⚖️ Our first Crime & Corruption newsletter of 2026 is anything but quiet. This week:
Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro puts Europe in a bind over the rule of law; AI dominates talks at the UN anti-corruption conference in Doha; and Europe watches as Marine Le Pen’s appeal trial begins.
Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro puts Europe in a bind over the rule of law; AI dominates talks at the UN anti-corruption conference in Doha; and Europe watches as Marine Le Pen’s appeal trial begins.
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
🪫 Fancy becoming a battery expert in a few clicks?
InnoEnergy used EU taxpayer money to boast claims it trained over 100,000 people.
But FTM found flawed figures, counting certificates not people, including failed or incomplete courses, and even children playing an educational Minecraft game.
InnoEnergy used EU taxpayer money to boast claims it trained over 100,000 people.
But FTM found flawed figures, counting certificates not people, including failed or incomplete courses, and even children playing an educational Minecraft game.
Certified failure? EU-funded battery training rewards learners for 0% test scores
Backed by millions in EU funding, clean tech company InnoEnergy claims it has trained more than 100,000 people to work in Europe’s battery industry. But some of its courses can be completed in minutes...
www.ftm.eu
January 13, 2026 at 7:08 AM
🪫 Fancy becoming a battery expert in a few clicks?
InnoEnergy used EU taxpayer money to boast claims it trained over 100,000 people.
But FTM found flawed figures, counting certificates not people, including failed or incomplete courses, and even children playing an educational Minecraft game.
InnoEnergy used EU taxpayer money to boast claims it trained over 100,000 people.
But FTM found flawed figures, counting certificates not people, including failed or incomplete courses, and even children playing an educational Minecraft game.
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
A key EU project meant to wean Europe off Russian gas has been derailed. So has the corruption probe into it, exposing failures in Bulgaria and at EU level.
At the heart of the case are corruption allegations, a sudden death, a smear campaign against the prosecutor, and her suspension.
At the heart of the case are corruption allegations, a sudden death, a smear campaign against the prosecutor, and her suspension.
Gas, lies, and videotape: How a gas project in Bulgaria brought chaos to EU’s anti-corruption body
A corruption probe into a strategically important Bulgarian gas project – designed to loosen Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and long opposed by Moscow – has descended into chaos. A kompromat ca...
www.ftm.eu
January 8, 2026 at 7:06 AM
A key EU project meant to wean Europe off Russian gas has been derailed. So has the corruption probe into it, exposing failures in Bulgaria and at EU level.
At the heart of the case are corruption allegations, a sudden death, a smear campaign against the prosecutor, and her suspension.
At the heart of the case are corruption allegations, a sudden death, a smear campaign against the prosecutor, and her suspension.
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Power prefers silence. We don’t.
Our members make our investigations possible. Reaching 50,000 by December means more video reporting, a new disinformation series, cross-border investigations, and 1,000 gifted memberships to keep journalism accessible.
Support FTM today: www.ftm.eu/powertoaccou...
Our members make our investigations possible. Reaching 50,000 by December means more video reporting, a new disinformation series, cross-border investigations, and 1,000 gifted memberships to keep journalism accessible.
Support FTM today: www.ftm.eu/powertoaccou...
December 19, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Power prefers silence. We don’t.
Our members make our investigations possible. Reaching 50,000 by December means more video reporting, a new disinformation series, cross-border investigations, and 1,000 gifted memberships to keep journalism accessible.
Support FTM today: www.ftm.eu/powertoaccou...
Our members make our investigations possible. Reaching 50,000 by December means more video reporting, a new disinformation series, cross-border investigations, and 1,000 gifted memberships to keep journalism accessible.
Support FTM today: www.ftm.eu/powertoaccou...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
New: Google has been hit by a European Union investigation over fears it may have abused its dominance by using its own artificial intelligence tools to squeeze out competition: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU Opens Google Antitrust Probe Over AI Use of Online Content
Google has been hit by a European Union investigation over fears it may have abused its dominance by using its own artificial intelligence tools to squeeze out competition.
www.bloomberg.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:36 AM
New: Google has been hit by a European Union investigation over fears it may have abused its dominance by using its own artificial intelligence tools to squeeze out competition: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
💣 Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons firm, is implicated in a widening NATO corruption scandal. The military alliance’s procurement agency (NSPA) has suspended the company from bidding on new contracts.
www.ftm.eu/articles/isr...
www.ftm.eu/articles/isr...
Israel’s biggest defence company suspended by NATO amid corruption probe
Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons firm, is implicated in a widening NATO corruption scandal. The military alliance’s procurement agency (NSPA) has suspended the company from bidding on new contr...
www.ftm.eu
December 8, 2025 at 6:55 AM
💣 Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons firm, is implicated in a widening NATO corruption scandal. The military alliance’s procurement agency (NSPA) has suspended the company from bidding on new contracts.
www.ftm.eu/articles/isr...
www.ftm.eu/articles/isr...
💥 NEW: Israel’s largest defence company, Elbit Systems, has been suspended by NATO’s procurement agency amid a major corruption probe. Belgian police are looking for an Elbit consultant suspected of corruption and criminal organisation www.ftm.eu/articles/isr...
Israel’s biggest defence company suspended by NATO amid corruption probe
Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons firm, is implicated in a widening NATO corruption scandal. The military alliance’s procurement agency (NSPA) has suspended the company from bidding on new contr...
www.ftm.eu
December 8, 2025 at 7:36 AM
💥 NEW: Israel’s largest defence company, Elbit Systems, has been suspended by NATO’s procurement agency amid a major corruption probe. Belgian police are looking for an Elbit consultant suspected of corruption and criminal organisation www.ftm.eu/articles/isr...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
new: Mogherini resigns as College of Europe rector amid fraud probe www.euractiv.com/news/mogheri...
www.euractiv.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
new: Mogherini resigns as College of Europe rector amid fraud probe www.euractiv.com/news/mogheri...
📣 Ritter also convincingly won the council vote (82 votes v 54 for second candidate) and will be the next European Chief Prosecutor
🔥 After a confident show in this morning's hearing, MEPs want Andrés Ritter, the EPPO's current deputy chief prosecutor to take over from Laura Kövesi. EU countries will soon announce their preferred candidate. If that is Ritter, too, it's settled www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
MEPs want Andrés Ritter as the next EU Chief Prosecutor | News | European Parliament
The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee adopted its preferred candidates for the post of European Chief Prosecutor.
www.europarl.europa.eu
December 3, 2025 at 6:08 PM
📣 Ritter also convincingly won the council vote (82 votes v 54 for second candidate) and will be the next European Chief Prosecutor
🔥 After a confident show in this morning's hearing, MEPs want Andrés Ritter, the EPPO's current deputy chief prosecutor to take over from Laura Kövesi. EU countries will soon announce their preferred candidate. If that is Ritter, too, it's settled www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
MEPs want Andrés Ritter as the next EU Chief Prosecutor | News | European Parliament
The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee adopted its preferred candidates for the post of European Chief Prosecutor.
www.europarl.europa.eu
December 3, 2025 at 5:34 PM
🔥 After a confident show in this morning's hearing, MEPs want Andrés Ritter, the EPPO's current deputy chief prosecutor to take over from Laura Kövesi. EU countries will soon announce their preferred candidate. If that is Ritter, too, it's settled www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Former EU foreign chief and rector of the #collegeofeurope
Federica Mogherini is in custody, reports @lechobe.bsky.social www.lecho.be/economie-pol...
Federica Mogherini is in custody, reports @lechobe.bsky.social www.lecho.be/economie-pol...
Arrestations au Collège d'Europe pour des soupçons de fraude: Federica Mogherini en garde à vue
La section belge du parquet européen a dirigé des perquisitions au Collège d'Europe à Bruges et au SEAE de Bruxelles, pour des soupçons de fraude au marché public. Trois personnes sont en garde à vue ...
www.lecho.be
December 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Former EU foreign chief and rector of the #collegeofeurope
Federica Mogherini is in custody, reports @lechobe.bsky.social www.lecho.be/economie-pol...
Federica Mogherini is in custody, reports @lechobe.bsky.social www.lecho.be/economie-pol...
👀 EU prosecutors are carrying out raids at the College of Europe in Bruges and the EEAS in Brussels as part of a probe into suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats. Three suspects were detained.
www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/new...
www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/new...
Belgium: EPPO conducts searches at College of Europe and European External Action Service | European Public Prosecutor’s Office
www.eppo.europa.eu
December 2, 2025 at 10:48 AM
👀 EU prosecutors are carrying out raids at the College of Europe in Bruges and the EEAS in Brussels as part of a probe into suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats. Three suspects were detained.
www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/new...
www.eppo.europa.eu/en/media/new...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
En Turquie, le journaliste Fatih Altaylion écope de 4 ans de prison pour avoir dénoncé le pouvoir autoritaire d'Erdogan
➡️ https://l.humanite.fr/dJ7
➡️ https://l.humanite.fr/dJ7
November 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
En Turquie, le journaliste Fatih Altaylion écope de 4 ans de prison pour avoir dénoncé le pouvoir autoritaire d'Erdogan
➡️ https://l.humanite.fr/dJ7
➡️ https://l.humanite.fr/dJ7
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲.
In our latest FTM EU podcast, Alexander Fanta and Simon Van Dorpe break down how Google built its dominance, why Brussels struggles to rein it in, and what a potential breakup battle could look like.
🎧Listen below:
In our latest FTM EU podcast, Alexander Fanta and Simon Van Dorpe break down how Google built its dominance, why Brussels struggles to rein it in, and what a potential breakup battle could look like.
🎧Listen below:
Podcast | EU vs Google: The battle for the internet
Google is under growing pressure from EU regulators, who are considering breaking up the tech giant over its market dominance. An investigation by FTM revealed how the company’s controversial corporat...
www.ftm.eu
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 AM
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲.
In our latest FTM EU podcast, Alexander Fanta and Simon Van Dorpe break down how Google built its dominance, why Brussels struggles to rein it in, and what a potential breakup battle could look like.
🎧Listen below:
In our latest FTM EU podcast, Alexander Fanta and Simon Van Dorpe break down how Google built its dominance, why Brussels struggles to rein it in, and what a potential breakup battle could look like.
🎧Listen below:
🔥 NATO procurement chief Stacy Cummings came under fire twice this year from top officials within her agency. They accuse her of not tackling corruption, favouritism and undue interference. Today, @ftm.eu publishes the documents, with @lalettre.bsky.social and @lesoir.be www.ftm.eu/articles/nat...
NATO’s procurement chief under fire amid corruption scandal, leak reveals
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is mired in a corruption scandal, and top officials have raised concerns about its approach to tackling graft. Internal documents reveal how General Mana...
www.ftm.eu
November 21, 2025 at 7:53 AM
🔥 NATO procurement chief Stacy Cummings came under fire twice this year from top officials within her agency. They accuse her of not tackling corruption, favouritism and undue interference. Today, @ftm.eu publishes the documents, with @lalettre.bsky.social and @lesoir.be www.ftm.eu/articles/nat...
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
Seven years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia couldn’t visit Washington.
When he arrived at the White House Tuesday, he got F-35s stealth fighters, the world’s fastest chips and the central role in the remaking of the Middle East.
When he arrived at the White House Tuesday, he got F-35s stealth fighters, the world’s fastest chips and the central role in the remaking of the Middle East.
Once a Pariah, Saudi Prince Resets U.S. Relations on His Own Terms
Seven years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman couldn’t visit Washington. When he arrived at the White House on Tuesday, he got F-35s, the world’s fastest chips and the central role in the remaking of the Middle East.
nyti.ms
November 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Seven years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia couldn’t visit Washington.
When he arrived at the White House Tuesday, he got F-35s stealth fighters, the world’s fastest chips and the central role in the remaking of the Middle East.
When he arrived at the White House Tuesday, he got F-35s stealth fighters, the world’s fastest chips and the central role in the remaking of the Middle East.
Reposted by Simon Van Dorpe
⚖️📬 In our new Crime & Corruption newsletter: Denmark revives EU anti-corruption talks, charges against Manfred Weber are dropped, the world moves toward a UN tax treaty, Zelensky faces scrutiny over Ukraine’s energy sector, and an OnlyFans creator is jailed with a hefty tax bill.
Newsletter | Denmark steps in to revive the EU’s deadlocked anti-corruption rules
Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism
www.ftm.eu
November 19, 2025 at 9:26 AM
⚖️📬 In our new Crime & Corruption newsletter: Denmark revives EU anti-corruption talks, charges against Manfred Weber are dropped, the world moves toward a UN tax treaty, Zelensky faces scrutiny over Ukraine’s energy sector, and an OnlyFans creator is jailed with a hefty tax bill.
More than half of possible fraud cases the European Court of Auditors (ECA) transfers to EPPO/OLAF for further investigation relates to cohesion policy, ECA member Stef Blok says
November 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
More than half of possible fraud cases the European Court of Auditors (ECA) transfers to EPPO/OLAF for further investigation relates to cohesion policy, ECA member Stef Blok says