Hungary’s EU Commissioner Denies Spying Allegations Amid Investigation

Allegations have surfaced claiming that the Hungarian government attempted to recruit spies within the European Commission, a matter Hungary’s EU commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, has publicly denied. This denial follows a meeting held on Sunday with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, during which the allegations were discussed.

According to a spokesperson for the Commission, Paula Pinho, the president inquired whether Várhelyi was aware of any recruitment efforts by Hungarian intelligence targeting Commission staff during his tenure as Hungary’s top diplomat in Brussels. Várhelyi responded that he had no knowledge of such activities.

Internal Investigation Underway

Pinho confirmed that an internal group has been established to investigate the allegations further. When asked about whether Várhelyi continued to receive confidential documents, another spokesperson refrained from commenting, citing the ongoing investigation’s “operational security.”

The espionage claims emerged last week when Direkt36, a Hungarian investigative outlet, published a report in collaboration with Belgian and German media. The report outlines allegations that Hungarian intelligence began efforts to spy on the European Commission more than a decade ago, specifically from 2012 to 2018. During this period, tensions between the European Commission and Viktor Orbán‘s government, which labels itself as one of “illiberal democracy,” escalated.

Reports indicate that officers from Hungary’s foreign intelligence agency, known as the Information Office, operated under diplomatic cover while stationed at Hungary’s permanent representation to the EU, a role Várhelyi held from 2015 to 2019. Traditionally, diplomatic missions focus on EU policy and law-making, making the idea of using such facilities for espionage particularly alarming.

Claims of Coercion and Suspicion

The Hungarian government has rejected these allegations, branding them as a smear campaign. Várhelyi was reappointed as Hungary’s European commissioner in 2024, having previously served from 2019. He has also held various senior diplomatic roles at the Brussels representation between 2011 and 2015.

An anonymous source who worked at the European Commission on issues that heightened tensions with the Orbán government recounted a suspicious encounter. The individual noted being invited to a meeting in Budapest, which was later relocated to a shopping mall in Buda. At this meeting, they were allegedly asked to share classified internal documents, couched in terms of national pride: “We’re both Hungarians, working for the same goal,” the alleged spy reportedly said. The official declined the request and ended the conversation.

The investigation also revealed that Belgian intelligence is monitoring a cultural institution backed by the Hungarian government, known as the House of Hungary. This facility, which opened in 2024 to promote music, science, and culture, has raised concerns among Belgian intelligence officials. A source informed Belgium’s De Tijd that such cultural missions are often perceived as potential fronts for espionage activities.

As the internal investigation continues, the implications of these allegations may reverberate throughout the EU, raising questions about diplomatic practices and national security within the bloc.