𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨'𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 What happened to the reform that could have safeguarded Europe’s media pluralism today? This episode uncovers the secret letters and lobbying that derailed it – and how that decision still shapes Europe’s media landscape today.

Two years into the war, Ukraine still faces relentless Russian drone attacks. Inside them, investigators are finding something unexpected: European-made microchips. Despite sanctions, trading networks in Hong Kong have funnelled millions in EU components into Russia’s war machine.

It’s now official: the EU will attend Trump’s Board of Peace. But what about the lobbying behind it? Yesterday, we revealed via an internal Commission document obtained through FOI that representatives of the Tony Blair Institute urged the EU to join, saying it “should not be shy.”

Documents reveal Tony Blair lobbied EU to join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ 🔗Full story: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀: we reveal that the Tony Blair Institute lobbied for an EU role on Trump’s peace board, a Norwegian watchdog backs our fight over missing EU texts, tentative progress on rules to tackle clothing waste, and chemical lobbying strikes again. www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

𝗘𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱? In this week’s Europe Uncovered, we look at how the Epstein files continue to send shockwaves across the continent. From academics to power brokers, and even royalty, new connections are emerging as the fallout widens.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀. 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴. FTM and partners identified over 500 shadow fleet vessels exploiting legal grey zones to keep sanctioned oil moving worldwide, including along Europe’s coast. France and the U.S. recently intervened. Will enforcement soon follow?

🚢 More than 500 shadow fleet vessels sail under false flags to keep exports of sanctioned oil flowing. Dozens have crossed European waters. Under maritime law, they can be intercepted, as the U.S. and France have recently shown. But will the rest of Europe act fast enough?

⚖️ Inside this week’s Crime & Corruption newsletter: Epstein’s fallout in Europe, new NATO corruption cases, suspended shady contractors, record-low global corruption scores, Marine Le Pen’s trial enters a decisive phase, and more.

𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 Loans meant to fight poverty left many families trapped in debt, with cases linked to suicide. Reporters travelled across Cambodia to investigate how European development finance supported a system critics say profits from desperation.

🛡️Tinder is popular with soldiers, but our investigation suggests that it was not designed with security in mind. Listen back to our latest podcast, '𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿' here: www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...

Imagine a supermarket where advisors recommend products that earn them commission, not what’s best or cheapest for you. You still pay, hidden in the price. That’s financial advice across Europe today, a flawed system Brussels has failed to fix after industry lobbying. www.ftm.eu/articles/how...

💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗜? At our members’ event in Paradiso Amsterdam last month, journalist Isobel Cockerell from @codastory.com unpacked the rise of a Silicon Valley “new religion”, the growing tech 'broligarchy', and why the Vatican is paying close attention.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀: the AI copyright debate is back on lawmakers’ agenda, a U.S. report renews “censorship” claims about the EU, whistleblower protections face legal scrutiny, and the EU court weighs in on Catalan immunity.

📰🔍 From Epstein-linked AI networks to anti-LGBTI+ disinformation and global trade shocks – this week’s Europe Uncovered brings together investigations exposing the hidden forces shaping politics, tech, society, the environment, and more. Here’s the best investigative journalism of the week.

Trusted with hundreds of millions in EU aid, IBF International Consulting now faces misconduct allegations, including suspected corruption and money laundering. The Commission has pulled the plug. How did it get this far again, and why do shady contractors keep slipping through Brussels’ cracks?

🎙️ 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 | 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 📍 Soldiers are no strangers to danger. In the first episode of Season 2 of the FTM podcast, we expose how swiping on the app can put soldiers, and national security, at risk. 🎧 Listen on our website, app, and on all major podcast platforms.

🎧 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗧𝗠 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆! From military security exposed via Tinder to Big Tobacco and power in EU politics, we dig into investigations that hold power to account, with expert voices and great guests. Stream from tomorrow on our app, website and podcast platforms.

𝗜𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀? Our latest Secrecy Tracker looks at the EU’s main transparency battles for 2026, from access limits to court cases, Ombudsman probes, deleted messages at the top, and more. Co-written with @investigate-europe.eu & @euobserver.com

After Trump mocked a country he said “nobody had ever heard of”, the US imposed tariffs and cut most aid. Lesotho, the “denim capital of Africa”, built its economy on US exports. Now tens of thousands of jobs are at risk and an emergency has been declared.

Who will pay for Europe’s pandemic debts? Why is Brussels hiding the texts of laws it promotes in press releases? And how long can Telegram avoid scrutiny? Find out in the latest edition of Bureau Brussels: www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

📰🔍 This week’s Europe Uncovered brings together investigations into Kremlin influence in classrooms under occupation in Ukraine, misleading environmental claims, scams in Italy’s migration system, press freedom under threat in Sierra Leone linked to a Dutch drug lord, and more.

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Follow the Money is hiring a Growth & Partnerships Manager (EU) to grow our award-winning investigative journalism. 📍 Amsterdam / Brussels | ⏱ 32h 📅 Apply by 22 Feb 2026 For more info and to apply, visit our website below 👇

Instead of chasing one of Europe’s most wanted drug traffickers, Sierra Leone’s authorities are targeting journalists reporting on him. Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers roams freely, partying with senior officials, while reporters face intimidation and exile – calling on the Dutch government for help.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 & 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: transparency under strain across Europe, Brussels’ VAT fraud crackdown, a German politician convicted over an Azerbaijan-linked Laundromat scandal, YouTuber-turned MEPs under scrutiny and more. Read the full newsletter on our website (or free on our app for 5 days 👇

Eating less meat is widely seen as a climate win. But what does it mean for farmers? New research finds that even small dietary shifts could strand billions in Europe’s farm buildings, machinery, and livestock if change comes too fast. The risk isn’t going greener – it’s doing it without a plan.

From NATO’s €1bn Innovation Fund to US private equity firm KKR’s growing grip on Europe’s festivals and its bets on Israeli tech, and the Prince of Virunga’s new EU-backed plans, we’ve got questions. Not all of them have answers. Read the latest edition of Bureau Brussels:

📰🔍 From apps harvesting phone location data to covert foreign lobbying, Telegram skirting EU rules, risky weed sales, a Russian extremist movement in Poland, and arms money backing EU democracy events – this week’s Europe Uncovered exposes the bloc’s blind spots.

Why does Trump want Greenland? Not for its ice or fjords. It’s about power. Today, influence is exercised through trade, tech, and economics, not just battlefields. This is the era of geoeconomics, quietly but aggressively reshaping the world. Our comic strip explains how it works.

📱🌐 Launched in 2013, Telegram now has more than a billion monthly users. As its reach has grown, so have questions in Brussels: is it really just a messaging service, or should it face the same EU rules as large platforms like YouTube and Meta, after being described as “the dark web in your pocket”?

At the margins of the World Economic Forum, this week in Davos, there will be lots of side events. This is how a former Uber lobbyist arranged for the CEO of the World Bank to show up as guest of honour allowing his network to lobby her. www.ftm.eu/articles/imf...

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀: the EU’s controversial sponsorship of African football raises red flags, Cyprus’ EU presidency accepts backing from a local Coca-Cola bottler, and Meta pushes back against the bloc’s battery rules for its smart glasses.

📰🔍 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁. This week: oil & gas drilling in protected nature; Italy’s controversial €13.5bn mega-bridge; Belgium’s taxpayer-funded police IT fiasco; covert Wikipedia edits for the powerful; and state-linked cash behind an Orbán ally’s luxury project.

What sorts of financial flows are hiding behind anti-democratic forces in Europe today? How are they connected, how is the network structured, and who is leading influence campaigns? Follow the Money is looking for a reporter to investigate this field of influence.

🔥 Burning bridges: Italy’s €13.5bn mega-bridge was meant to unite Sicily with the mainland and boost the south. Instead, it’s fuelling division, with concerns over mafia links, environmental damage, threatened homes, and growing legal and political hurdles.

⚖️ 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.

🪫 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.

America first? Not quite. 🗞️🇪🇺 This week in Bureau Brussels: the U.S.’s push to dominate artificial intelligence gets a boost from EU firms, the Commission’s enforcement of EU law appears to be easing, and polluting companies take states to court.

📰🔍 The first 2026 edition of Europe Uncovered is out. What’s in store? AI disinformation after Nicolás Maduro’s capture, spying on Barack Obama, Dutch tax tricks, and an EU cyber watchdog tripped up by its own AI-assisted report.

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.

🏢💰 From Netflix to Tesla to Pfizer: trillions in corporate revenues are routed through the Netherlands each year, with much of it passing through untaxed. Our latest analysis maps the top 15 multinationals benefiting most from Dutch tax rules.

🇪🇺📬 The first Bureau Brussels newsletter of 2026 is out. What’s inside? • Nepotism at NATO: €80,605 paid to the brother of a senior official • EU tech rules: pressure mounts to act against Big Tech • MEP expenses: will Parliament finally close long-criticised loopholes?

🎧 As 2025 wraps up, we’re revisiting our most-listened podcasts of the year. From Pfizergate and spyware to festival takeovers and fast fashion, these episodes sparked major conversations. We’ve curated special Spotify and YouTube playlists to revisit the highlights.

Which stories mattered most in 2025? This year, we uncovered stories powerful actors would rather keep hidden, from corruption in the European Parliament to data privacy failures, sanctions dodging and hidden lobbying in Brussels. We’ve compiled the top 10 most-read investigations of the year.

This end-of-year edition of Europe Uncovered brings together the most impactful investigations of the year. From corruption and war crimes to surveillance, sanctions-busting and environmental harm, these are the stories journalists exposed that powerful actors would rather keep hidden.

"There’s an important distinction between diplomacy and unwanted influence." In a recent podcast, journalist @salsabilfayed.bsky.social explained how transparent engagement differs from influence driven by hidden funding. 🎧 Listen back here: www.ftm.eu/articles/thi...

We’re closing the year with a special edition of Bureau Brussels. Our reporters look back on the moments that defined their work in 2025 – from playground Pfizergate revelations to last-minute publishing pressure and a Daphne Prize–winning investigation. www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

Our final Europe Uncovered of the year is out! From Commission-backed “green” funds financing weapons to Slovak arms sold in Yemen and Russian oligarchs suing Ukraine, this week’s investigations show how power, money and conflict collide across Europe.

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...

💡Think tanks shape Europe’s policies – but who funds them? In our latest podcast, journalist Alistair Keepe discussed how U.S.-funded and Europe-based think tanks influence EU policymaking, including the role of Orbán-linked MCC Brussels. Re-listen here: www.ftm.eu/articles/thi...