Category 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 reading

Direkt36 exposed an opposition politician’s businesses with government-linked figures. Now the EU is investigating the projects

Companies 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 reading

Hungarian companies also involved in “Grand Theft Europe”, the EU’s biggest tax fraud

The 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 reading

Government 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 reading

Péter Heim was very close to the Orbán-government. But a stormy autumn has changed everything

How a long-time Fidesz operative has become in charge of billions of EU money

Internal document shows that EU criticized public venture capital projects ran by influential Hungarian businessmen

Businessman 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 reading

Leaked documents expose Hungarian oil company CEO’s controversial role in an EU programme

Oil company CEO gave public money to the companies of his relative and long-time business partner

Company Wins Major Public Contract Through False Claims

While Hungary’s PM Attacks Brussels, His Brother’s Company Gets Money From The EU

The 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 reading

How Brussels took on the son-in-law of Hungary’s Prime Minister

When companies become black holes for EU funds

Police investigate the inexplicably high prices of Elios, former company of PM’s son-in-law

Hungary 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.

Continue reading