🤯100,000 LOBBY MEETINGS LOGGED ON OUR INTEGRITY WATCH PLATFORM🤯

The far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE) misspent over 276,000 euros in EU funds. A coalition of the centre and far-right political groups, including the PfE itself, seems content with allowing that money to be paid back from a reserve fund of taxpayers' money. We're not. 🔽🔽🔽 buff.ly/a4794nM

t's been a mammoth June, which calls for an XXL newsletter. That's exactly what we've done, with twice as many topics as usual. Swipe to discover June's six highlights. Want more? Sign up to get everything straight to your inbox, here: buff.ly/BPkfPwH

A French court has found far-right politician Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling European Parliament funds. That's the French story.

🗣️ Stronger civil society, media and culture means a stronger Europe. Check Civil Society Europe’s infographic to discover stable funding mechanisms for civil society. Stay updated on ‘Voices of Millions’ on their website: bit.ly/3RjPEyk #EUCivilSociety #VoicesOfMillions

Last Wednesday, we hosted an event on EU Cooperation on Rule of Law & Democratic Governance in Enlargement Countries

Their bravery has protected public health, kept millions from being stolen and exposed everyday workplace wrongdoing. And yet many whistleblowers are fired, harassed or silenced for it. #WorldWhistleblowerDay

🔎 What is the state of funding for civil society in the EU? Check data at a glimpse in Civil Society Europe’s infographic. Stay updated on ‘Voices of Millions’ on CSE’s website: bit.ly/3RjPEyk #EUCivilSociety #VoicesOfMillions

Where is EU enlargement heading next? Find out at our event next Wednesday on EU Cooperation on Rule of Law & Democratic Governance in Enlargement Countries.

We're hiring! Are you passionate about corruption and transparency in the European Union? Do you have knowledge of anti-corruption and anti-money laundering developments and trends at EU level? If so, we might be looking for you. 📩Apply now here: buff.ly/K4fXhjq.

Our lead story this month concerns German EPP MEP Angelika Niebler, who is under investigation over allegations of misuse of Parliament funds.

Between bank holidays, sunshine and storms, a lot has happened over the past month, although some decisions have been questionable, to say the least. We have selected the top three stories from last month and bundled them together for you.

We call for an investigation by the Advisory Committee into possible breaches of the Code of Conduct for MEPs, and for the imposition of appropriate sanctions should misconduct be confirmed. Read the full complaint here: buff.ly/R36sSU9 .

We've submitted a complaint on ECR MEP Alexandr Vondra. Our complaint follows concerns over undeclared outside activities and potential conflicts of interest linked to his role as chair of the Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations (PCTR).

Again: which employer would allow anyone who misused a seven-figure sum to continue managing a budget? The answer, is, unfortunately, the European Parliament. Instead of tacitly condoning expenses misuse, it should strip him of his oversight duties. It has the power to do so.

We've now submitted a report to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), because we believe the same misuse may be going on at the ID Group's successor, the Patriots, of which Mr Claeys remains the Secretary General.

Which employer would continue to entrust budget management to someone whose audit shows the misuse of 4.3 million euros? Reports last year revealed the now-defunct far-right ID group was on the hook for misusing that sum. Philip Claeys oversaw its budget during that time.

We upgraded the lobbyists section on the platform, enabling you to interactively discover where lobby organisations registered in the EU Transparency Register are based worldwide, how many are located in each country, and much more information about them.

Who really has the EU’s ear? That question is easier to answer thanks to our updated Integrity Watch EU platform.

Our analysis of the rule of law in the EU's enlargement countries continues. Next up, we have Serbia, which has been negotiating accession since 2014.

We've been monitoring the progress EU enlargement countries have made in the EU's 2025 Rule of Law Reports.

Last Monday, we were invited to attend an event hosted by our colleagues at Transparency Intrenational Belgium, where the EU Anti-Corruption Directive, which was formally adopted by the Council of the European Union last month, was discussed.

Yesterday, MEPs chose to shield one of their own instead of letting justice run its course. Here’s our Director’s opinion on it. Read the full press release here: buff.ly/Gl3CIvB

The European Parliament has just voted against lifting EPP MEP Angelika Niebler's parliamentary immunity, meaning that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) cannot properly investigate her alleged misuse of EU funds.

Last week, our director Nicholas Aiossa delivered a guest lecture to students in the Master of Advanced Studies in European Policies and Public Administration at KU Leuven. 🎓

EPP teams up with far right to vote down fundamental rights report Today in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), EPP MEPs partnered with the far right to deliberately vote down a report on the implementation of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights within the EU legal framework.

Far right and EPP derail important transparency vote by going after NGOs

Heard of Rachida Dati? She's just made the second round of the mayoral election in France. What you might not know is how much corruption she was accused of while she was an MEP.

While industry leaders recently met with President Ursula von der Leyen in Antwerp to push for the deregulation of the EU’s health, environmental and social standards, civil society and trade unions have been left out of the conversation.