Pascal Hansens
Journalist, Brussels
Trained in European affairs and Franco-German relations at Sciences Po Strasbourg and the Institut des Hautes Études Européennes, Pascal Hansens landed in Brussels in 2013 and never left the EU bubble. From Agence Europe to Contexte, he spent nearly a decade decoding the machinery of EU lawmaking. Since 2022, he’s been with Investigate Europe, exposing the quiet deals struck behind closed doors at the Council and pushing for more transparency in EU institutions. He’s now increasingly focused on rooting cross-border investigations in Belgium’s political terrain. In his spare time, he enjoys skewering politics with satirical drawings, published in various outlets.
Recent Works
Investigating the EU’s top court: What we found, how we did it, and what the story helped to change
Investigating the EU’s top court: What we found, how we did it, and what the story helped to change
23 July 2026
Secrecy Tracker: Commission buries Gaza audits as EU top court faces transparency backlash
Secrecy Tracker: Commission buries Gaza audits as EU top court faces transparency backlash
13 July 2026
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Top EU judges financial holdings raise troubling questions
Top EU judges financial holdings raise troubling questions
30 June 2026
The EU's new norm: Break democratic standards
The EU's new norm: Break democratic standards
6 February 2026
Investment scammers slip through cracks in EU Big Tech law
Investment scammers slip through cracks in EU Big Tech law
15 October 2025
EU dropping the ball on sanctions enforcement
EU dropping the ball on sanctions enforcement
27 February 2025
Boeing and Airbus shipments passed on to Russia via India, despite sanctions
Boeing and Airbus shipments passed on to Russia via India, despite sanctions
20 February 2025
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Infringement cold cases: member states left unpunished for dozens of EU law violations
Infringement cold cases: member states left unpunished for dozens of EU law violations
24 September 2024
‘People buy spectacularly less’: inflation-hit Europe weighs costs ahead of elections
‘People buy spectacularly less’: inflation-hit Europe weighs costs ahead of elections
16 May 2024
France and Netherlands lobbied for child border detention from birth in EU migration pact
France and Netherlands lobbied for child border detention from birth in EU migration pact
13 February 2024
Hardline EU governments in late push to legitimise surveillance of journalists
Hardline EU governments in late push to legitimise surveillance of journalists
12 December 2023
Russia: Europe imports €13 billion of ‘critical’ metals in sanctions blindspot
Russia: Europe imports €13 billion of ‘critical’ metals in sanctions blindspot
24 October 2023
European Parliament faces lawsuit over cuts to voluntary MEP pension fund
European Parliament faces lawsuit over cuts to voluntary MEP pension fund
13 July 2023
MEPs face 50% cut to luxury pensions, but public still set for hefty bill
MEPs face 50% cut to luxury pensions, but public still set for hefty bill
22 May 2023
European Parliament clings to its golden pensions
European Parliament clings to its golden pensions
11 May 2023
Taxpayers risk paying for €300m black hole in luxury EU pension fund
Taxpayers risk paying for €300m black hole in luxury EU pension fund
2 May 2023
The empty house: a window into Europe’s vacant property problem
The empty house: a window into Europe’s vacant property problem
14 December 2022
Russia’s multi-million euro nuclear exports untouched by EU sanctions
Russia’s multi-million euro nuclear exports untouched by EU sanctions
7 October 2022
Dismantling Schengen - half a year at a time
Dismantling Schengen - half a year at a time
9 September 2022
Member states slam European Commission pesticide reduction ambitions
Member states slam European Commission pesticide reduction ambitions
19 July 2022