Research conducted by Belgium’s De Tijd, Hungary’s Direkt36, Paper Trail Media, Germany’s Der Spiegel, and Austria’s Der Standard has uncovered that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has allegedly been conducting espionage on European Union institutions for several years via a covert network of intelligence agents. This reportedly included activities carried out through Hungary’s permanent representation to the EU, including during the tenure of current Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi as ambassador.
Balazs Ujvari, a spokesperson, stated, “We take such accusations very seriously, as always, and we are committed to safeguarding the staff, information, and networks of the Commission against illegal intelligence gathering.” Although he refrained from disclosing specifics due to “operational security,” he confirmed that an internal group would be formed to investigate the claims.
Ursula von der Leyen’s spokesperson could not confirm whether the President would address the allegations with Várhelyi or initiate further actions, but noted that such information is certainly within the President’s awareness.
During a plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday, Belgian MEP Elio Di Rupo demanded a parliamentary investigation into the accusations. He stated, “I request clarification through an ad-hoc committee. If the preliminary analysis substantiates the allegations, I call for a European Parliament inquiry.” Di Rupo emphasized that if true, this would rank among the largest scandals in EU history, highlighting a disconnect between EU treaties and current realities.
Additionally, MEP Sara Matthieu from the Green Party emphasized that the situation requires thorough investigation. “The implications of Commissioner Várhelyi’s involvement are severe. If he participated in espionage, he should not remain in his position,” she urged, calling on Von der Leyen to launch an independent investigation and enforce significant repercussions.
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