Key facts
- A Hungarian spy ring operated from the country's embassy in Brussels, targeting EU officials.
- Intelligence activities intensified from 2015 and reportedly ceased in 2016.
- A European Commission investigation confirmed the spy ring's existence but found no serious security breaches.
- EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, who served as Hungary's ambassador during part of the period, denies knowledge of the network.
- MEPs and legal experts argue Várhelyi is unfit for his role due to the spy ring's existence.
A European Commission investigation has confirmed the existence of a Hungarian spy ring that operated from the country's embassy in Brussels, targeting EU officials between 2012 and 2018. The findings, detailed in a leaked document, have reignited calls for the resignation of EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, who served as Hungary's ambassador to the EU from 2015 to 2019, overlapping with the period of alleged espionage.
The intelligence officers reportedly used their diplomatic positions to gather information of specific interest to the Hungarian government, primarily from Commission officials of Hungarian nationality. While the investigation found no serious security breaches, it stated that the activities went beyond typical diplomatic tasks.
Várhelyi has denied any knowledge of the spy network. However, Hungary's new Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who previously worked under Várhelyi, has suggested the Commissioner is not being entirely truthful. Legal experts and MEPs argue that even if Várhelyi was unaware, his leadership during the period disqualifies him from his current role, citing a lack of independence and control.
The European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee had previously criticized Várhelyi in a report for failing to meet expected standards. Despite calls for his resignation, a move to establish a parliamentary inquiry committee was blocked by the European People's Party (EPP) during Hungary's election campaign. Brussels appears hesitant to set a precedent for removing a Commissioner following a change of government in a member state, fearing it could embolden populists and create instability ahead of upcoming French and Spanish elections.