“AsktheEU.org allowed us to obtain documents showing the extent to which the defence industry, the European Commission and the European Defence Agency had been engaging with each other” – Interview with Bram Vranken

Bram Vranken is a researcher and campaigner with the Belgian peace organisation Vredesactie. He works on topics related to arms lobbying in the European Union and the international arms trade.

Alejandra: Hi Bram, great to talk to you today. To start off, could you tell me what has been the most relevant information you have obtained through AsktheEU.org? read more

“Freedom of information is absolutely fundamental to our democratic rights, to our ability to hold decision makers to account, to know what’s going on” – Interview with Vicky Cann

Vicky is a campaigner for Corporate Europe Observatory, a research and campaign group working to expose and challenge the privileged access and influence enjoyed by corporations and lobby groups in EU policy making.

Alejandra: Vicky, thank you for joining me this morning. You have made around 400 requests on AsktheEU.org, so certainly you are one of our most active users. When we last interviewed you, you told us that you were working on the issues of revolving doors and lobby transparency. Are you still working on that or have you changed your focus to another issue? read more

“The most interesting requests I’ve done were those focused on how the EU was deporting what they considered illegal immigrants in Europe” – Interview with Adrián Blanco

Adrián Blanco Ramos is a graphics reporter at The Washington Post. He previously worked as a data journalist at El Confidencial, focusing on data visualization, data analysis and investigative journalism. He participated in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalist’s Paradise Papers investigation. He also interned at the Spanish international news agency Agencia EFE, Radio Televisión Española and the Times of London. read more

“My requests have helped me obtain documents about the militarisation and externalisation of European borders” – Interview with Mark Akkerman

Mark is a researcher at Stop Wapenhandel (Dutch campaign against arms trade), who has in recent years focused, in cooperation with the Transnational Institute (TNI) on the militarisation and externalisation of EU borders, and the role the military and security industry plays in this.

Alejandra: Hey Mark, thanks for doing this interview! As a starter, could you tell our users what has been the most relevant information you have obtained through AsktheEU.org? read more

“AsktheEU.org helps keep the EU democratic and transparent – and is so easy to use that I could explain it to my mum!” – Interview with Hans Wetzels

Hans Wetzels (1982) is a freelance investigative journalist from the Netherlands. He currently lives in Berlin and Landgraaf, and has experience working in and from countries like Kenya, Nepal, Angola or Ukraine and knows his way around Brussels and the European institutions. His work has been published in several Dutch, Belgian and international media, such as Vrij Nederland, Down to Earth Magazine, MO* Magazine, Africa Renewal or Deutsche Welle. Hans is a member of the Green New Deal for Europe campaign launched by the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25) and likes to play his bass guitar whenever possible. read more

“Sometimes I get the feeling that they put all of these barriers so that you just give up. But this pushes me more, it motivates me to continue” – Interview with Nikolaj Nielsen

Nikolaj Nielsen is a Danish-born journalist who has been working at the EUobserver since 2012.

Alejandra: Thanks for taking the time in talking to us, Nikolaj! We first wanted to ask you about the most relevant or interesting information you have obtained via this platform. Could you talk to us about it? read more

“If there is something you have always wanted to know, why not ask?” – Interview with Vicky Cann

Vicky Cann is a campaigner for Corporate Europe Observatory, a research and campaign group working to expose and challenge the privileged access and influence enjoyed by corporations and lobby groups in EU policy making. Vicky makes access to documents requests through AsktheEU.org to expose potential conflicts of interest or highlight where the EU revolving door rules have not been followed. She spoke to Andreas Pavlou of Access Info Europe about her experiences. read more