European Commission ends investigation into Hungary spy claims

The European Commission has cleared Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi of allegations related to a reported espionage network that targeted Commission staff, concluding an internal investigation without finding evidence of individual wrongdoing.

The announcement came one day before Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, is set to take office following his landslide election victory last month. As a result of the decision, Várhelyi will remain in his position as EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.

The investigation was launched after media reports in October alleged that Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels operated a network of intelligence officers posing as diplomats between 2012 and 2018. The operatives were reportedly tasked with targeting Hungarian staff within the European Commission, seeking access to sensitive information related to Hungary and attempting to recruit officials.

According to the Commission, the investigation found no evidence that any staff members had been successfully recruited. A spokesperson stated: "Based on the information gathered during this investigation and with the tools that we have at our disposal within the Commission, it is not possible to attribute individual responsibility or involvement beyond that of the intelligence officers themselves," Commission spokesman Balázs Ujvári said.

Várhelyi came under scrutiny due to his role as Hungary’s ambassador to the EU from 2015 to 2019, overlapping with part of the period in question. He was later appointed as a European Commissioner by then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Várhelyi denied any knowledge of the alleged activities last year, reportedly telling Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that he “was not aware” of the network.

The case unfolded against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between Hungary and the European Union during Várhelyi’s tenure as ambassador, marked by disputes over rule of law, democratic standards, and media freedom.

Várhelyi is widely regarded as an ally of Orbán, whose Fidesz party lost last month’s election. He has also been noted for attending events organised by Patriots for Europe, a far-right political group.

Péter Magyar, who previously served as a diplomat at Hungary’s Permanent Representation in Brussels between 2011 and 2015, criticised Várhelyi in October, saying he "did not reveal the whole truth" regarding the spying allegations.

By Tamilla Hasanova