Ioannis Antypas is a data journalist based in Brussel, Belgium.

Competent in using python, d3.js, for scrapping, data wrangling and visualizing data.

Lobbyists spent a record €1.7 billion influencing the European institutions in 2016

13 Dec 2017  |  POLITICO  |  English  |  Disparity in Lobbying between EU Member States

The article discusses the record €1.7 billion spent on lobbying the European institutions in 2016, highlighting the dominance of older EU member countries in this spending. It notes that Belgium, Germany, the U.K., and France are the top spenders, with Central and Eastern European countries lagging behind. The article mentions Jan Němec's efforts to set up a trade association for Czech and Slovak transport associations in response to the lobbying imbalance. Arnaldo Abruzzini of Eurochambres and Daniel Freund of Transparency International EU provide insights into the reasons behind the disparity. The EU's transparency register is critiqued for its voluntary nature and lack of external audit. POLITICO's analysis of the register's data reveals that corporate interests far outweigh NGO spending on lobbying. The article also touches on the lobbying efforts of non-EU countries like Morocco and Kenya and the growing awareness of lobbying's importance in newer EU member states and the Western Balkans.

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European Trade Union Confederation European Commission European Parliament Center for Responsive Politics

I am an experienced multimedia journalist based in Brussels, Belgium.

I've been a journalist in print, radio and television for nearly 20 years, the last 8+ specialising in EU policy, legislation and current affairs. As well as an address book packed with insider sources and contacts in Brussels,...

Silk Road 2.0? Uzbekistan-EU relations boosted by new democratic elections

27 Oct 2023  |  EURACTIV.com  |  English  |  Democratic Reforms

Uzbekistan is set to hold parliamentary and local elections on October 27, marking a significant step in its democratic transformation. The elections are the first since constitutional adjustments and are crucial for implementing further reforms. The country is working closely with civil society to ensure accountability and transparency. Uzbekistan's relationship with the EU is strengthening, with both parties recognizing the mutual benefits of cooperation in trade, investment, and governance. The EU sees Uzbekistan as a key partner in Central Asia, with significant foreign direct investment flowing into the country. The article highlights the challenges and opportunities in Uzbekistan's path to modernity, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic liberalization with political reforms.

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Ghent Institute for International and European Studies European Economic and Social Committee Romanian National Trade Union Confederation MERIDIAN European External Action Service European Union Republic of Uzbekistan Development Strategy Center Center for Analysis of Democratic Processes

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Political View

I am a hard working and result-oriented multilingual journalist with six years of experience in European news coverage. Enthusiastic about telling human stories behind politics. Covering the activities of the EU institutions and beyond with a marked focus on migration, climate change, women’s ...

Consultations begin on EU scheme of minimum wage

04 Jun 2020  |  euronews  |  English  |  Economic Recovery

The European Commission has initiated a new consultation with social partners to ensure all workers in the EU earn a minimum wage, deemed essential for economic recovery post-pandemic. Monthly minimum wages vary across the EU, with Bulgaria having the lowest and Luxembourg the highest. The consultation aims to set conditions for member states to establish their own minimum wages, not a uniform European wage. The European Trade Union Confederation backs the proposal, emphasizing its potential to boost demand. Business associations have not commented. The consultation concludes on September 4, following Spain's acceleration of guaranteed minimum income and recent minimum wage increases in several EU countries. Eurofound's report indicates that minimum wage increases alone may not suffice for workers to make ends meet, suggesting that purchasing power is more critical.

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European Trade Union Confederation European Commission Eurostat

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Khaled Diab is an award-winning freelance journalist, blogger and writer who is currently based in Belgium. He has previously been based in Tunis, Jerusalem, Brussels, Geneva and Cairo. 

Khaled writes for leading publications in Europe, the Middle East, the United States and Asia. He also ...

Working towards a cure for Europe’s economic burnout

26 Nov 2020  |  meta.eeb.org  |  English  |  Environmental Sustainability

The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the flaws of a growth-driven economy, revealing its inadequacies for workers and the environment. A new report, co-authored by the EEB and the European Youth Forum, offers a radical blueprint for post-pandemic Europe, challenging the notion that economic growth is essential for job creation. The report suggests that health should be prioritized over wealth and proposes solutions like universal basic incomes, shorter working weeks, and job sharing to ensure wellbeing without economic growth. The pandemic has exposed the economic system's shortcomings and the need for systemic change, emphasizing that the economy should serve life, not vice versa.

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European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) European Youth Forum European Environmental Bureau (EEB) Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance

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Hello and welcome to my profile !

To introduce myself : 

I have an extensive experience in media production, living and working across four continents for a wide range of public and private entities.

As a multimedia producer and reporter, I have :

- reported on European social and ...

Brussels Economic Forum 2023: What is the situation of the European Union and where is it heading

10 May 2023  |  es.euronews.com  |  Spanish  |  Climate Change

The Brussels Economic Forum 2023 highlights the European Union's efforts to address various challenges, including war, climate change, resource scarcity, and global competition. The EU's economic policies, digital and green transitions, and inflation forecasts are discussed, with cautious optimism about economic recovery. Key figures like Paolo Gentiloni and Nadia Calviño emphasize the importance of digital and green investments. The forum also addresses social issues like unemployment and income inequality, with calls for taxing the wealthy and changing public spending rules. The EU's dependency on critical raw materials and the geopolitical implications are also examined.

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Confederation of European Trade Unions European Central Bank European Commission European Union

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British foreign correspondent, published by the Guardian, the Financial Times, Reuters and Vice. Specialise in current affairs, human rights, humanitarian issues, development and sustainable business.

Swedish Ports Threaten to Block Teslas From Entering the Country

30 Oct 2023  |  www.wired.com  |  English  |  Union Strike

Dock workers in Sweden, represented by the Swedish Transport Workers’ Union, are threatening to block Tesla deliveries in support of striking workers at Tesla's Swedish repair shops, who are demanding a collective agreement. The blockade is set to start on November 7. Tesla has faced similar labor disputes in the US and Germany. The strike has been criticized as ineffective, but the threat of a blockade has prompted Tesla to restart negotiations with the union. The outcome of this dispute could influence labor actions in other countries.

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European Trade Union Confederation Swedish Transport Workers’ Union IF Metall US National Labor Relations Board IG Metall

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Mie Olsen is a journalist based in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is specialized in European affairs, foreign reporting on macroeconomic dynamics and climate. She recently traveled to Colombia on a grant from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on environmental activism and extraction of ...

Andrea Vogt is an independent journalist and documentary maker based in Bologna, Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy.  Her dispatches on crime, politics and social affairs have appeared internationally in print, online, radio and broadcast media, including The Guardian, BBC, The Daily Telegraph, ...

‘Envelopes stuffed with €50,000 handed out by Italian MEP’

19 Dec 2022  |  The Telegraph  |  English  |  Illicit lobbying

Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former MEP, is implicated in an alleged EU graft scandal, dubbed Qatargate, involving illicit lobbying by Qatar and Morocco. He was reportedly filmed distributing cash in 'Santa Claus' envelopes to trade union boss Luca Visentini, who is under investigation along with Panzeri. The scandal also involves Francesco Giorgi and Eva Kaili, who face corruption charges. Visentini claims the money was a campaign donation, not a bribe. Panzeri, who chaired the EU subcommittee on human rights, had half a million euros found at his home. His family and NGO, Fight Impunity, are also under investigation, with his wife and daughter facing possible extradition to Belgium.

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International Trade Union Confederation European Parliament

Servet Yanatma is a freelace journalist based in London, United Kingdom.

Pay equality between men and women: transparency in remuneration at the heart of the fight

26 Mar 2025  |  fr.euronews.com  |  French  |  Workplace Transparency

The European Union is addressing the gender pay gap with a new directive on pay transparency, requiring member states to integrate it into national law by June 2026. The European Trade Union Confederation highlights the financial impact of the lack of transparency on women, estimating a loss of up to 7.2 billion euros annually. Despite efforts, salary transparency remains low in major European economies like Germany. BusinessEurope opposes the directive, arguing it imposes burdensome reporting requirements. The article emphasizes the role of transparency in reducing pay disparities and supporting marginalized groups.

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European Commission European Trade Union Confederation BusinessEurope

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Political View

Eszter Zalan is a Hungarian journalist working for Brussels-based news portal EUobserver specialising in European politics, focusing on populism and Brexit. Before immersing herself into the "EU bubble", Eszter reported on conflict and war zones from Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt and other places ...

Women hardest hit by energy price hike

15 Nov 2022  |  euobserver.com  |  English  |  Gender Inequality

Women are disproportionately affected by the energy crisis compared to men, primarily due to their lower average income, as highlighted by a Eurofound survey on the cost-of-living crisis. This is further exacerbated by the 13 percent average gender pay gap in Europe, according to the European Trade Union Confederation, which commented on the issue in light of the EU's Equal Pay Day.

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European Trade Union Confederation Eurofound

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