The European Commission has announced it will investigate claims that Hungarian intelligence conducted spying operations against EU institutions, following a joint investigative report by Hungarian, Belgian and German media.
EU Commission Forms Special Investigation Team
The European Commission announced that it will set up an internal special group to examine allegations that Hungarian intelligence conducted espionage against EU institutions. The decision was communicated by spokesperson Balazs Ujvari.
Allegations Stem from Multi‑Nation Journalism Probe
The accusations followed a joint investigation carried out by Hungarian investigative outlet Direkt36, Belgian newspaper De Tijd and German magazine Der Spiegel, according to the Commission.
Hungarian Official Refuses to Confirm Claims
The spokesperson for Hungary’s permanent delegation to the Commission declined to comment and referred the matter to Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who said he had no knowledge of the allegations.
Alleged Intelligence Operatives in Brussels
Reports claim that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government dispatched intelligence officers to Brussels between 2015 and 2017 to gather information on EU institutions, with one agent allegedly working as a diplomat in the Hungarian embassy’s European policy department.
Potential Repercussions for Hungary in Brussels
Analysts say the spying activities would be more reminiscent of Moscow or Beijing practices than those of an EU member state, potentially undermining trust in Hungary among Brussels’ representatives.
