Whether you live in Berlin, Budapest or Bilbao, decisions made in the committee rooms and corridors of Brussels will affect your life. But how these decisions are made, often remains secret. Investigate Europe’s reporters help shed light on the processes that matter to all Europeans.
For many, the political system of the European Union is an intangible web of institutions, political affiliations and officialdom. A bureaucratic juggernaut controlled from a nerve-centre in Brussels, which connects the 27 member states. It is from there that the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission set the laws that govern our lives. It is the place where politicians, officials and lobbyists converse in little-known acronyms working to influence legislation and push forward political agendas.
Investigate Europe’s reporters are here to demystify the legalese and bring transparency to the “trilogue” among the three institutions. Our EU affairs project takes you inside the negotiations of the laws that affect us all. We publish stories that get to the heart of EU decision-making, explain how political agreements inked in Brussels matter to ordinary Europeans, and shine a light on the critical issues of our time.
The project started life by scrutinising the Council of the European Union, an institution where the 27 EU governments debate, amend and adopt laws behind closed doors, avoiding the public scrutiny. Now we have expanded the focus to reflect our increased footprint in Brussels and as a home for our many strands of reporting about the Union. And with European elections on the horizon, we believe critical, cross-border perspectives that hold EU power to account are needed now more than ever. Welcome!
Transparency
Sanctions Policy
Elections 2024: EU under pressure
Media freedom
Secrets of the Council
Publications
Pollution de l’air : l’État pourrait échapper à une amende de plusieurs millions d’euros
Reporterre, France
1 April 2025
Slik endte sanksjonerte helikopter-deler fra norsk firma opp i Russland
Dagsavisen, Norway
26 February 2025
Aerei, sanzioni, triangolazioni. Le forniture occidentali alla Russia tramite società indiane
Altreeconomia, Italy
20 February 2025
Несмотря на санкции, авиационные запчасти продолжают поступать в Россию
Meduza, Russia
20 February 2025
Airbus og Boeing flydele fragtet fra Danmark havner i Rusland trods sanktioner
Danwatch, Denmark
20 February 2025
British firms among companies to have exported aircraft parts that reached Russia
The Guardian, UK
20 February 2025
Airbus-y-las-sanciones-contra-rusia
arte journal, France/Germany/Spain
20 February 2025
.jpg&w=256&q=75)
Illegale Exporte, hohe Profite: Wie ein Burgenländer beim Sanktionsbruch gegen Russland mitmischte
Der Standard, Austria
20 February 2025
Indian traders saw a war and cashed in
The Reporters Collective, India
20 February 2025
Russland-Sanktionen ohne Kontrolle
arte journal, France/Germany/Spain
20 February 2025
Przesiadka w Delhi: Jak szmugluje Rosja?
Frontstory, Poland
20 February 2025
En pleine guerre en Ukraine, des milliers de composants Airbus et Boeing équipent l’aviation russe
Disclose, France
20 February 2025
Piezas de avión de Boeing y Airbus terminan en Rusia a través de la India a pesar de las sanciones
infoLibre, Spain
19 February 2025
Ο διάβολος στις λεπτομέρειες του ΑΙ Act
EfSyn, Greece
24 January 2025
Intelligence artificielle : la France ouvre la voie à la surveillance de masse en Europe
Disclose, France
22 January 2025
Wie die Ausnahmen in der KI-Verordnung landeten
Netzpolitik, Germany
22 January 2025
Sorveglianza di massa, via libera dall’Europa
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
22 January 2025
Portugal defendeu e aprovou uso livre da inteligência artificial pelas forças de segurança
Público, Portugal
22 January 2025
France spearheaded successful effort to dilute EU AI regulation
EUobserver, Belgium
22 January 2025
Παρακολουθήσεις Νο 2: αυτή τη φορά με AI
EfSyn, Greece
22 January 2025
Παρακολουθήσεις Μητσοτάκη 2.0 – Αυτή τη φορά με AI
Reporters United, Greece
22 January 2025
Pollution de l’air, oiseaux protégés : Bruxelles rechigne à punir les États délinquants
Reporterre, France
9 December 2024
Due pesi e misure: l’Ue usa le infrazioni come arma politica
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
30 September 2024
España es el segundo país que más sentencias de la UE incumple impunemente
infoLibre, Spain
26 September 2024
Toothless 'infringement'?: EU Commission leaves member states unpunished for dozens of violations
EUobserver, Belgium
25 September 2024
Wie die EU-Kommission Umweltsünder schont
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
25 September 2024
Verstöße gegen Klima- und Umweltrecht: Europas Cold Cases
arte journal, France/Germany/Spain
24 September 2024
Europas ytre høyre tjener på bygde-misnøye
Agenda Magasin, Norway
26 April 2024
Viaggio nell’Europa rurale, dove l’estrema destra avanza sfruttando il senso di abbandono
The Post Internazionale, Italy
23 April 2024
Erfolge der Rechten auf dem Land: Was Wut auf „die in Brüssel“ und Frust bewirken
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
22 April 2024
Viaje a cuatro bastiones ultra: la extrema derecha avanza en la Europa rural explotando la sensación de abandono
infoLibre, Spain
12 April 2024
Rural Europe's turn to far-right triggered by 'political neglect'
EUobserver, Belgium
10 April 2024
Russisk innblanding uroar før EU-valet
DAG OG TID, Norway
4 April 2024
Putins heimlicher Krieg: Wie Russland Europas Demokratien unterwandert
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
28 March 2024
La injerencia rusa dispara las alarmas en la UE a las puertas de las elecciones
infoLibre, Spain
24 March 2024
Rosja ma apetyt na Europę. Jak rośnie sieć kremlowskich agentów wpływu
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
21 March 2024
Russian interference unnerves Europe as elections near
EUobserver, Belgium
21 March 2024
Власти РФ очень хотят «посеять разногласия» между странами ЕС, помогающими Украине.
Meduza, Russia
21 March 2024
Ecco come la Russia interferisce sulla campagna elettorale per le europee
The Post Internazionale, Italy
11 March 2024
EU vil stenge grensene for flyktningbarn
Vårt Land, Norway
20 February 2024
Νέο ευρωπαϊκό σύμφωνο για τη μετανάστευση: Βρέφη πίσω από τα σίδερα
Reporters United, Greece
15 February 2024
Francia y Países Bajos presionaron para poder retener incluso a bebés en las fronteras de la UE
infoLibre, Spain
13 February 2024
France led lobbying to detain children in EU migration pact
EUobserver, Belgium
13 February 2024
Immigration En Europe : la France à la manœuvre pour autoriser la rétention des enfants dès le plus jeune âge
Disclose, France
13 February 2024
França e Países Baixos querem que crianças requerentes de asilo possam ser detidas nas fronteiras da UE
Público, Portugal
13 February 2024
Migranti, regole più dure per i minori. Italia sconfitta e penalizzata
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
13 February 2024
EU governments in last-minute push to legitimise surveillance of journalists
Follow the Money, Netherlands
12 December 2023
Espionnage des journalistes : la France fait bloc aux côtés de six états européens
Disclose, France
12 December 2023
Die Freiheit, Journalisten auszuhorchen
Zeit Online, Germany
12 December 2023
Hardline EU governments in late push to legitimise surveillance of journalists
EUobserver, Belgium
12 December 2023
Francia lidera las presiones dentro de la UE para legitimar el espionaje a periodistas
infoLibre, Spain
12 December 2023
EU-Staaten wollen Überwachung von Journalisten legitimieren
Der Standard, Austria
12 December 2023
Legge Ue sui media, stop dell’Italia: “Dobbiamo poter spiare i giornalisti”
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
12 December 2023
32+1 εξαιρέσεις για την παρακολούθηση δημοσιογράφων στην Ευρώπη – η κυβέρνηση Μητσοτάκη πρωτοστατεί
Reporters United, Greece
12 December 2023
Land efter land i Europa begränsar pressfriheten – nu agerar EU
Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
2 October 2023
EU-Vizepräsidentin Věra Jourová: „Journalisten sollen frei von politischem Druck sein“
Falter, Austria
11 September 2023
Im Namen der Freiheit
Falter, Austria
11 September 2023
A pequena revolução em curso no sistema europeu de comunicação social ainda pode falhar
Público, Portugal
5 September 2023
La primera ley de medios europea mide la fuerza de la UE para frenar el retroceso de la libertad de prensa
infoLibre, Spain
5 September 2023
Investigate Europe: Wie sich manche EU-Länder gegen ein geplantes EU-Gesetz zur Medienfreiheit sperren
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
5 September 2023
Rettungsanker für die Medienfreiheit in Europa
Republik, Switzerland
5 September 2023
Freedom Act: si vota la legge Ue che può liberare la Rai dai partiti
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
5 September 2023
Jourová chce wprowadzić przełomowe prawo chroniące dziennikarzy. Nie wszyscy w UE są za
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
5 September 2023
German publishers sabotage European Media Freedom Act
Follow the Money, Netherlands
5 September 2023
An end to the ‘desperate situation’ for Europe’s journalists?
Index on censorship, United Kingdom
5 September 2023
A new EU law, and the battle to protect Europe's journalists
EUobserver, Belgium
5 September 2023
EU-Luxuspensionen :Ehemalige Abgeordnete klagen gegen Kürzung der Zusatzrente
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
16 July 2023
Parlamento Europeu enfrenta acção judicial por cortes no fundo voluntário de pensões dos deputados
Público, Portugal
14 July 2023
EU-Abgeordnete fordern starke Schutzmaßnahmen für Journalist:innen
Netzpolitik, Germany
14 July 2023
Los Gobiernos de la UE negocian un ‘cheque en blanco’ para espiar a los periodistas
infoLibre, Spain
13 July 2023
Spying on journalists justified by “national security”?
VSquare, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia
19 June 2023
EU-regjeringer vil ha «blankofullmakt» til å spionere på journalister
Agenda Magasin, Norway
19 June 2023
Η κυβέρνηση Μητσοτάκη υπέρ της πανευρωπαϊκής χρήσης spyware κατά δημοσιογράφων – «για λόγους εθνικής ασφάλειας»
Reporters United, Greece
17 June 2023
Governos da UE preparam “cheque em branco” para espionagem de jornalistas
Público, Portugal
17 June 2023
Patto tra i governi europei per spiare i giornalisti
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
17 June 2023
En Europe, les gouvernements s’apprêtent à autoriser l’espionnage de journalistes
Mediapart, France
17 June 2023
Nederland keert zich tegen Europese regels om overheidsspionage van journalisten terug te dringen
Follow the Money, Netherlands
17 June 2023
Spähsoftware zur Überwachung von Journalisten: EU plant die „Blankovollmacht“
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
17 June 2023
Blankoscheck für Geheimdienst-Überwachung der Presse
Netzpolitik, Germany
17 June 2023
Pegasus wejdzie bocznymi drzwiami?
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
17 June 2023
Luxemburgo aceita que jornalistas possam ser espiados pelos Estados
Contacto, Luxembourg
17 June 2023
Retraites dorées des eurodéputés : après nos révélations, le Parlement décide de coupes drastiques
Mediapart, France
23 May 2023
El Parlamento Europeo recortará las pensiones de sus diputados pero usará dinero público para rescatar el fondo
infoLibre, Spain
23 May 2023
France creates obstacle to the tax directive that the Portuguese presidency approved in the EU
Público, Portugal
23 May 2023
French business lobby strikes back at EU’s new law on tax transparency: Wants a toothless law
Klassekampen, Norway
23 May 2023
Who in the EU protects corporations? In Brussels, the fate of tax transparency is at stake
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
23 May 2023
Fisco, via libera ai furbi: Macron aiuta Amazon&C.
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
23 May 2023
La droite et l’extrême droite ne veulent pas mettre fin aux retraites dorées d’eurodéputés
Mediapart, France
11 May 2023
Skandal um EU-Luxus: Doppelte und dreifache Pensionen auf Kosten der Steuerzahler
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
3 May 2023
La retraite dorée de 81 eurodéputés français grâce à un fonds de pension situé au Luxembourg
Mediapart, France
3 May 2023
Les impayables compléments de pension des députés européens
Le Soir, Belgium
3 May 2023
El Parlamento europeo se plantea rescatar de la quiebra con dinero público el fondo de pensiones voluntario de sus diputados
infoLibre, Spain
3 May 2023
EU-parlamentets lyxfond går i graven med miljardskuld
Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
3 May 2023
Fundo de pensões privado dos eurodeputados vai falir. Será que os contribuintes europeus o vão salvar?
Público, Portugal
3 May 2023
Podatnicy dopłacą do dodatkowych emerytur europosłów? Luksusowy fundusz na krawędzi bankructwa
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
3 May 2023
Suspendendo a liberdade de circulação de Schengen, meio ano de cada vez
Público, Portugal
18 September 2022
Norge har hatt grensekontroll siden 2015: – Ulovlig, sier EU-domstol
Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
18 September 2022
Dismantling Schengen – half a year at a time
EUobserver, Belgium
18 September 2022
Así desmantelan Schengen a plazos seis países de la UE
infoLibre, Spain
18 September 2022
Gegen die deutschen Bremser
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
17 January 2022
España y Portugal obvian a los científicos y cierran los ojos ante la sobrepesca en el Mediterráneo y el golfo de Vizcaya
infoLibre, Spain
10 December 2021
Espanha e Portugal arriscam sobrepesca no Mediterrâneo e no Golfo da Biscaia
Público, Portugal
10 December 2021
Wie die Lobbymacht von Google und Co. an der EU scheitert
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
26 October 2021
EU fiscal transparency? How to measure multinationals
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
3 June 2021
EU approves greater tax transparency for multinationals but fails to convince critics
Público, Portugal
3 June 2021
The billion Euro failure
taz, Germany
15 May 2021
Secret deals behind closed doors
EfSyn, Greece
15 February 2021
Tax defeat for Germany
Klassekampen, Norway
11 February 2021
Europas Steuergeheimnis wankt
Zeit Online, Germany
8 February 2021
Greece blocks a gender equality directive
EfSyn, Greece
8 February 2021
Tax transparency law for multinationals advances in the EU
Público, Portugal
8 February 2021
Slap in Berlin. More transparency from the giants
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
8 February 2021
Portugal vs Germany clash on EU corporate tax avoidance
EUobserver, Belgium
8 February 2021
Europe’s tax secrecy is wavering
Zeit Online, Germany
8 February 2021
Portugal and Germany are at loggerheads over corporate tax evasion in the EU
Longplay, Slovenia
8 February 2021
Labs, vaccines, multinationals: how opacity has become the European Union standard
Marianne, France
6 February 2021
The ex-journalist who wants to open EU’s “black box”
Journalisten, Norway
4 January 2021
Orbán blunket først
Klassekampen, Norway
20 December 2020
In the Council, secrecy is the rule, and this affects “EU legitimacy”
Público, Portugal
19 December 2020
Laws made behind closed doors
Klassekampen, Norway
18 December 2020
Behind closed doors: secret deals in the Council of the EU
OpenDemocracy, UK
18 December 2020
Legislation behind closed doors
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
6 December 2020
Who decides the fate of European countries? The ‘black box’ called the Council
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
1 December 2020
Portugal criticised a proposal, in the Council, for defence mechanism of the rule of law
Público, Portugal
29 November 2020
It is not that we and the Hungarians are the only ones who have a problem with Brussels. But the others do not admit it out loudly
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
28 November 2020
EU Ombudsman accuses Union of secret legislation
Utrikesmagasinet, Sweden
27 November 2020
How Germany prevents the EU from uncovering multinational tax planning: Blocking tax disclosures.
Klassekampen, Norway
19 November 2020
The strange and secret veto of the law against tax evasion by multinationals
Público, Portugal
26 October 2020
In the shadow of the corporations
Zeit Online, Germany
10 September 2020
Greens complain of “blockade” of the federal government in the EU Council
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
3 August 2020
The parties betray election promises to stop tax fraud
Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
22 May 2020
Portugal will finally approve the directive on taxes for multinationals
Diário de Notícias, Portugal
27 November 2019
The government blocks European law on taxation of multinationals
Diário de Notícias, Portugal
23 November 2019
Legislation from closed chambers – how (un)democratic is the EU?
Blätter, Germany
1 May 2019