Direkt36 reported that Gergő Czeglédy, a well-connected politician from the Hungarian Socialist Party, won lucrative state contracts jointly with government-close businessmen. Now OLAF, the EU’s anti-fraud agency found irregularities in some of their deals.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Blackholes of EU funds
Opposition politician profited from business deals with the Hungarian government’s inner circles. Now, the EU has identified irregularities in several of their deals
This is how the mining company of Viktor Orban’s father became more profitable than its major competitors
The mining company of Viktor Orbán’s father has been involved in several major public construction projects in recent years and it has become one of the most successful companies in the market. Last year, it outperformed all of its major competitors in one important aspect: Győző Orbán’s company achieved the highest profit margin.
Continue readingDirekt36 exposed an opposition politician’s businesses with government-linked figures. Now the EU is investigating the projects
A company of Gergo Czegledy, a local leader of the Hungarian Socialist Party in Budapest is involved in projects investigated by OLAF.
Continue readingCompanies dominate public lighting in Serbia with controversial Hungarian methods
After winning public lighting tenders in Hungary, Elios, a company previously owned by the son-in-law of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, started expanding internationally. In Serbia, companies linked to Elios have been participating in 12 public lighting tenders, with some partners that are connected to Serbia’s political elite.
Continue readingHungarian companies also involved in “Grand Theft Europe”, the EU’s biggest tax fraud
The shockingly high amount of 50 billion euros is robbed every year from European taxpayers through so-called VAT carousel fraud. An international investigation reveals that Hungarian companies have also been involved in criminal networks.
Continue readingThe EU Anti-Fraud Office investigated irregularities reported by Direkt36
OLAF found several irregularities in the implementation of the Jeremie venture capital programme in Hungary previously reported by Direkt36 in cooperation with Forbes.
Continue readingGovernment official János Lázár gibbers about suspicious tenders won by the son-in-law of the Prime Minister
The European Union’s antifraud office has found serious irregularities in public projects carried out by a company formerly owned by the son-in-law of Hungary’s PM. The government has already received the report, but it does not publish it. Earlier it had been not that secretive in a similar case.
Continue readingPéter Heim was very close to the Orbán-government. But a stormy autumn has changed everything
Leaked records show that a state agency abruptly terminated its contract with an EU-sponsored fund managed by Péter Heim.
Continue readingHow a long-time Fidesz operative has become in charge of billions of EU money
Our investigation has exposed the controversial role Ágoston Gubicza, a businessman with close ties to government figures, has been playing in state-funded venture programmes.
Continue readingInternal document shows that EU criticized public venture capital projects ran by influential Hungarian businessmen
Details from the EU audit, which investigated the spendings of hundreds of billions of forints on start-ups in Hungary
Continue readingBusinessman close to Hungarian PM funded partner’s fledgling business with EU money
The business partner of Orbán’s friend had a factory, expected to be making 800 million HUF profit until the end of 2015. Eventually it made only 2 million. Its EU-funding was part of the very controversial Jeremie project.
Continue readingLeaked documents expose Hungarian oil company CEO’s controversial role in an EU programme
A belső iratanyagból kiderül az is, hogy az EU olyan súlyos szabálytalanságokat talált, hogy többmilliárdos büntetést szabott ki.
Continue readingOil company CEO gave public money to the companies of his relative and long-time business partner
Leaked documents show that the EU’s venture capital programme in Hungary has been undermined by rule violations and misuse of public money.
Continue readingCompany Wins Major Public Contract Through False Claims
The company needed to show that they had done similar construction in the past so they brought a reference from Uruguay. But it was a lie.
Continue readingWhile Hungary’s PM Attacks Brussels, His Brother’s Company Gets Money From The EU
A company co-owned by Győző Orbán Jr., the brother of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, received two EU grants this year.
Continue readingThe Hungarian PM’s son-in-law stepped back from public money. But his long-time business partner moved closer to it
For years, Endre Hamar was a close business partner of István Tiborcz, the son-in-law of the Hungarian prime minster. Hamar now became one of the first beneficiaries of the new European Union grant cycle, winning multiple public contracts.
Continue readingHow Brussels took on the son-in-law of Hungary’s Prime Minister
Two EU investigations are being conducted into the state contracts that were given to Elios Innovatív under suspicious circumstances. If the wrongdoing is proven, Hungary could face financial penalties.
Continue readingWhen companies become black holes for EU funds
Public money was given to companies to make them stronger but many of them ended up in bankruptcy. A co-owner of one of these firms later was hired by the state to run one of the most important public companies.
Continue readingPolice investigate the inexplicably high prices of Elios, former company of PM’s son-in-law
Dialogue for Hungary, an opposition party, filed the criminal complaint based on a recent article of Direkt36.
Continue readingHungary PM’s son-in-law left behind inexplicably overpriced lamps
A company until recently co-owned by Viktor Orbán’s son-in-law has been awarded public contracts to improve street lighting in several cities. A Direkt36 investigation revealed that the price of the lamps was unusually high, which raised the budget significantly in many cities.
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