European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing sharp criticism, as the leadership of the Commission comes under scrutiny for its handling of the scandal.
Another major controversy is shaking public trust in EU institutions emerging in the aftermath of the Pfizergate scandal, which exposed the lack of transparency in negotiations between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla over the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
Specifically, new revelations point to an alleged Hungarian spy network that operated for years within Hungary’s embassy in Brussels, attempting to recruit EU officials. At the center of the investigation is Olivér Várhelyi, former head of the embassy and now a European Commissioner. Von der Leyen is also under fire, with the Commission’s leadership questioned over how it is managing the matter.
The “open secret”
According to Politico, Members of the European Parliament will “grill” the European Commission on Wednesday regarding recent allegations that intelligence agents working for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government tried to recruit EU officials as spies between 2012 and 2018.
Hungarian officials who worked within EU institutions described the network to Politico as an “open secret” in the Belgian capital. The alleged espionage raises questions about whether Olivér Várhelyi, who led the embassy during the latter years when the spying is said to have taken place, should ever have become a European Commissioner.
The Commission has confirmed that it is conducting an internal investigation into the allegations. Belgian intelligence services are cooperating, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss details of the probe. Several MEPs have stated that Várhelyi should resign if the investigation finds he had any link to the alleged spy network.
Várhelyi reportedly told von der Leyen last week that he was “not aware” of any Hungarian attempts to recruit spies in Brussels, according to a Commission spokesperson.
Some MEPs, however, claim there were warnings sent to the Commission at the time. “There were already red flags back then,” said Terry Reintke, co-chair of the Greens. “The Commission now really needs to do its job, investigate thoroughly, and then — if it becomes evident through this inquiry — calling for Várhelyi’s resignation and removal would be the next logical step.”
If the Commission knew about the alleged Hungarian espionage, the question also arises as to what, if anything, it did at the time. “There’s evidence that individuals who were approached by Hungarians within the Commission reported it to Commission services,” said Daniel Freund, Green MEP. “And nothing ever happened.” He added that he had heard this information “indirectly.”
Protecting staff
A Commission spokesperson previously stated that the institution “takes such allegations seriously due to their implications for the security and integrity of the Commission’s operations. We are committed to protecting Commission staff, information, and networks from unlawful intelligence collection.”
Freund is among several MEPs, from groups including the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and Renew, calling for a political inquiry by a European Parliament committee into the alleged Hungarian espionage within EU institutions. Such an inquiry would also require answers from senior Commission officials about whether they were informed by staff a decade ago.
Iratxe García, president of the S&D, told Politico that her group supports finding “a means to ensure accountability — a follow-up mechanism on this espionage issue.”
However, the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) would oppose the creation of a political inquiry committee, said party spokesperson Daniel Köster, making such a move unlikely. Approval would require the EPP’s support, as it is the Parliament’s largest political group.
Elio Di Rupo, Belgium’s prime minister at the time the alleged spying began, said he had not heard of such claims back then. “There was no sign whatsoever of what we’re discussing now,” he said. “Absolutely nothing.”
Von der Leyen under fire
Criticism is not coming only from lawmakers. Von der Leyen is also under growing pressure from civil society groups to dismiss Várhelyi.
The NGO Good Lobby Profs argued that the new revelations this week, including confirmation from a former head of Hungarian intelligence that the spy network existed, “significantly strengthen the credibility of earlier claims” and justify Várhelyi’s resignation.
What the commission knew
Several individuals who worked with Várhelyi in Brussels told Politico that it was common knowledge in the city that a spy network was operating out of the Hungarian Permanent Representation. All requested anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive matter.
One of them said they had been approached by an employee of the permanent representation to become an informant, and that colleagues reported the incident to their superiors in EU institutions — raising questions about what the Commission knew at the time.
“There are two possibilities,” the official said. “Either the European Commission didn’t know and only learned [about the spy ring] through the press, which would be a disaster.
Or they knew and did nothing. The real question is why they allowed this spy network to operate unchecked.
Again, two possibilities: they knew but lacked the tools to respond, or they knew but thought it was so amateurish that they believed they had it under control.”
Orbán’s political rival Péter Magyar, who also worked at Hungary’s permanent representation under Várhelyi, accused him last week of concealing information about his time as ambassador. “In my opinion, Olivér Várhelyi, the current EU Commissioner and former EU ambassador (and my former superior), did not tell the full truth when he denied it during the official investigation the other day,” Magyar wrote on Facebook.
“It was an open secret in the EU embassy in Brussels that during János Lázár’s ministerial term from 2015 to 2018, intelligence officers were sent to Brussels,” he added.
Hungarian minister János Lázár, who oversaw the intelligence services while Várhelyi served as ambassador, said last week that although he does not recall “exact details,” his duty is “to protect my country,” adding: “If Hungarian intelligence services went to Brussels, I would honor them, not reprimand them.”
Von der Leyen’s role
The espionage allegations also raise questions about why Ursula von der Leyen insisted on keeping Várhelyi in his post. Several individuals familiar with her support for him said the Commission President personally intervened to pressure MEPs to approve Várhelyi’s nomination as Commissioner in 2024, after he had been required to undergo an additional round of written questioning from hesitant lawmakers.
“The role of the (then president-elect) is to participate in the nomination process of candidates from member states, to approve the list with the Council, and to present the entire College [of Commissioners],” said a Commission spokesperson. “After that, it’s in the hands of the European Parliament.”
Várhelyi currently serves as Commissioner for Health, after having been responsible for EU Enlargement during von der Leyen’s first term. “When Várhelyi’s re-nomination was announced, I expected more hesitation from von der Leyen, given his background,” said Katalin Cseh, Hungarian lawmaker and former MEP with Renew, who described the situation as a source of “shame and humiliation for the entire Commission.”
“I was somewhat surprised that during his nomination process, these serious ethical issues did not come more prominently to the fore,” Cseh added.
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Specifically, new revelations point to an alleged Hungarian spy network that operated for years within Hungary’s embassy in Brussels, attempting to recruit EU officials. At the center of the investigation is Olivér Várhelyi, former head of the embassy and now a European Commissioner. Von der Leyen is also under fire, with the Commission’s leadership questioned over how it is managing the matter.
The “open secret”
According to Politico, Members of the European Parliament will “grill” the European Commission on Wednesday regarding recent allegations that intelligence agents working for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government tried to recruit EU officials as spies between 2012 and 2018.
Hungarian officials who worked within EU institutions described the network to Politico as an “open secret” in the Belgian capital. The alleged espionage raises questions about whether Olivér Várhelyi, who led the embassy during the latter years when the spying is said to have taken place, should ever have become a European Commissioner.
The Commission has confirmed that it is conducting an internal investigation into the allegations. Belgian intelligence services are cooperating, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss details of the probe. Several MEPs have stated that Várhelyi should resign if the investigation finds he had any link to the alleged spy network.
Várhelyi reportedly told von der Leyen last week that he was “not aware” of any Hungarian attempts to recruit spies in Brussels, according to a Commission spokesperson.
Some MEPs, however, claim there were warnings sent to the Commission at the time. “There were already red flags back then,” said Terry Reintke, co-chair of the Greens. “The Commission now really needs to do its job, investigate thoroughly, and then — if it becomes evident through this inquiry — calling for Várhelyi’s resignation and removal would be the next logical step.”
If the Commission knew about the alleged Hungarian espionage, the question also arises as to what, if anything, it did at the time. “There’s evidence that individuals who were approached by Hungarians within the Commission reported it to Commission services,” said Daniel Freund, Green MEP. “And nothing ever happened.” He added that he had heard this information “indirectly.”
Protecting staff
A Commission spokesperson previously stated that the institution “takes such allegations seriously due to their implications for the security and integrity of the Commission’s operations. We are committed to protecting Commission staff, information, and networks from unlawful intelligence collection.”
Freund is among several MEPs, from groups including the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and Renew, calling for a political inquiry by a European Parliament committee into the alleged Hungarian espionage within EU institutions. Such an inquiry would also require answers from senior Commission officials about whether they were informed by staff a decade ago.
Iratxe García, president of the S&D, told Politico that her group supports finding “a means to ensure accountability — a follow-up mechanism on this espionage issue.”
However, the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) would oppose the creation of a political inquiry committee, said party spokesperson Daniel Köster, making such a move unlikely. Approval would require the EPP’s support, as it is the Parliament’s largest political group.
Elio Di Rupo, Belgium’s prime minister at the time the alleged spying began, said he had not heard of such claims back then. “There was no sign whatsoever of what we’re discussing now,” he said. “Absolutely nothing.”
Von der Leyen under fire
Criticism is not coming only from lawmakers. Von der Leyen is also under growing pressure from civil society groups to dismiss Várhelyi.
The NGO Good Lobby Profs argued that the new revelations this week, including confirmation from a former head of Hungarian intelligence that the spy network existed, “significantly strengthen the credibility of earlier claims” and justify Várhelyi’s resignation.
What the commission knew
Several individuals who worked with Várhelyi in Brussels told Politico that it was common knowledge in the city that a spy network was operating out of the Hungarian Permanent Representation. All requested anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive matter.
One of them said they had been approached by an employee of the permanent representation to become an informant, and that colleagues reported the incident to their superiors in EU institutions — raising questions about what the Commission knew at the time.
“There are two possibilities,” the official said. “Either the European Commission didn’t know and only learned [about the spy ring] through the press, which would be a disaster.
Or they knew and did nothing. The real question is why they allowed this spy network to operate unchecked.
Again, two possibilities: they knew but lacked the tools to respond, or they knew but thought it was so amateurish that they believed they had it under control.”
Orbán’s political rival Péter Magyar, who also worked at Hungary’s permanent representation under Várhelyi, accused him last week of concealing information about his time as ambassador. “In my opinion, Olivér Várhelyi, the current EU Commissioner and former EU ambassador (and my former superior), did not tell the full truth when he denied it during the official investigation the other day,” Magyar wrote on Facebook.
“It was an open secret in the EU embassy in Brussels that during János Lázár’s ministerial term from 2015 to 2018, intelligence officers were sent to Brussels,” he added.
Hungarian minister János Lázár, who oversaw the intelligence services while Várhelyi served as ambassador, said last week that although he does not recall “exact details,” his duty is “to protect my country,” adding: “If Hungarian intelligence services went to Brussels, I would honor them, not reprimand them.”
Von der Leyen’s role
The espionage allegations also raise questions about why Ursula von der Leyen insisted on keeping Várhelyi in his post. Several individuals familiar with her support for him said the Commission President personally intervened to pressure MEPs to approve Várhelyi’s nomination as Commissioner in 2024, after he had been required to undergo an additional round of written questioning from hesitant lawmakers.
“The role of the (then president-elect) is to participate in the nomination process of candidates from member states, to approve the list with the Council, and to present the entire College [of Commissioners],” said a Commission spokesperson. “After that, it’s in the hands of the European Parliament.”
Várhelyi currently serves as Commissioner for Health, after having been responsible for EU Enlargement during von der Leyen’s first term. “When Várhelyi’s re-nomination was announced, I expected more hesitation from von der Leyen, given his background,” said Katalin Cseh, Hungarian lawmaker and former MEP with Renew, who described the situation as a source of “shame and humiliation for the entire Commission.”
“I was somewhat surprised that during his nomination process, these serious ethical issues did not come more prominently to the fore,” Cseh added.
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