Follow the Money: The Podcast

The cost of influencing EU politics

Manfred Weber is one of the most powerful lawmakers in Brussels. Under his leadership, Europe’s top political family hired two consultants with close ties to Greece’s ruling party. Journalist Simon Van Dorpe found that more than €500,000 was spent in six months, yet results were limited. The affair has raised questions about political spending in the EU and oversight by the European Parliament.

The billion-euro battle over workers’ wages

The Dutch economy runs on low-paid temporary workers, including large numbers of migrants from countries such as Bulgaria, Poland, and Ukraine. But journalist Lise Witteman found that employment agencies may have underpaid them, in breach of EU law. The sector could now face a bill worth billions of euros as a mass lawsuit looms.

From community leaders to suspected smugglers

For years, Senegalese community leaders Cheikh Sy and Njouda Ndiaye warned people about the deadly risks of migration to Europe. Then they themselves were arrested for migrant smuggling. Reporter Andrei Popoviciu uncovered that their case is part of a wider EU-funded crackdown on migration.

Unmasking the car industry's dirty deals

A decade ago, Volkswagen was caught cheating emissions tests, putting far more toxic cars on the road than anyone knew. Journalist Peter Teffer got a rare glimpse into corporate emails and uncovered how Dieselgate wasn't the only time that carmakers tried to outsmart regulators.

The colonial roots of Europe’s flower market

Europe’s lucrative flower market is rooted in a colonial past, built on genetic material taken from the Global South and commercialised by Western companies. While the multi-billion-euro industry continues to flourish, virtually nothing flows back to the developing nations where the plants originated. Journalist Dylan Carter investigates the imbalance behind the blooms in our homes. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-flower-industry-keeps-colonial-system-blooming Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Download the FTM app: App Store ➪ https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/follow-the-money/id1232284535 Google Play ➪ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.ftm.ftmpulse&hl=en Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member