Follow the money

Podcast | How Russian oligarchs are suing Ukraine in wartime


The EU Files

The EU leads the fight against illegal fishing, but lets its own fleets off the hook


Podcast | Big Tobacco shows Big Alcohol how to lobby


The EU Files

Italian MEP rejects bribery allegations in Huawei corruption scandal


Big money, big influence

From secret lobbying to shady contracts, uncover how power and money intertwine inside Europe’s institutions.

‘Divide and conquer’: U.S. businesses bully Brussels into weakening supply chain rules


Inside Europe’s car cartel and the secret talks to align on toxic emissions


How Europe let the finance lobby kill plans to protect investors from bad advice


Turkey ramps up surveillance of its citizens – with a hand from Brussels

Russia’s war machine

As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, our reporting exposes the networks, decisions, and financial flows shaping it.

The Russia Files

These are the top European football clubs doing deals with Russia in wartime


The North Sea Investigations

Hundreds of shadow fleet ships sail under a false flag. The West is coming for them – but is it fast enough?


The Russia Files

Russian Red Cross supports Kremlin war machine – while receiving millions from the West


Podcast | The Western oil tankers that fund Putin’s war

Security and defence

Billions in EU funds flow into arms, AI and surveillance – but who profits, and who’s keeping watch?

European defence giant entangled in NATO corruption scandal


This is the hidden supply chain powering Russia’s war with European tech


Europeans’ health data sold to U.S. firm run by ex-Israeli spies


Spyware industry pockets EU subsidies while snooping on its citizens

Authoritarian forces in Europe

Track the rise of illiberal politics, foreign meddling and the erosion of press freedom across Europe.

Viktor Orbán hands over Hungary’s defence industry to business ally


China exports censorship tech to authoritarian regimes – aided by EU firms


EU urged to spend defence funds on independent media to combat Russian propaganda


Extreme right or just extremely conservative? How Italy’s Meloni is playing both sides


Georgia’s anti-EU media oligarch runs his empire through an Amsterdam office

Discover our files

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Security and Defence

Europe is investing heavily to ramp up its security. FTM takes a close look at how the money is being spent.

The EU Files

What is transpiring within the European Union? What are the goals and aspirations of the EU, and how is the budget allocated?

The scramble for Africa

Europe has major financial and political interests in Africa, but also an uncomfortable colonial history. Follow the Money investigates how European governments and companies navig...

The North Sea Investigations

Who are the winners and losers of the battle for the North Sea? Directed by Follow the Money, this is the first international investigative project into the North Sea as a whole. W...

Authors

Lise Witteman

Head of FTM's Brussels desk.

Mira Sys

Investigative journalist. Specializes in soil, pollution and environmental law.

Jesse Pinster

Investigates climate and energy policy, anti-democratic forces within the EU and wishful thinking by European institutes.

Simon Van Dorpe

Expert on EU competition, industrial policy and the influence of large multinationals. Researches consultancies & corruption.

Salsabil Fayed

Fascinated by the hidden interests of the financial world. Former financial analyst, now a dedicated journalist.