A network of Hungarian spies operated from Budapest's permanent representation in Brussels, according to a European Commission investigation
According to a European Commission document cited by Politico, Hungarian intelligence agents targeted EU officials in Brussels between 2013 and 2016 to obtain internal information.
A network of Hungarian spies operated from Budapest's permanent representation in Brussels, according to a European Commission investigation
Hungarian intelligence agents conducted espionage activities against officials of the European Union from Hungary's permanent representation in Brussels, according to findings from a European Commission investigation revealed by Politico.
The investigative summary document indicates that Hungarian intelligence services began targeting European entities as early as 2013. Their operations, initially discreet, became progressively much more visible from 2015 onwards. This increase in activity ultimately led to the discovery of the espionage network and the inability to continue its operations. The agents reportedly ceased their activities in 2016.
Investigators confirmed information reported in the press according to which Hungarian spies targeted EU diplomats and attempted to obtain internal information on matters of particular interest to the Hungarian government. The agents notably approached officials of Hungarian nationality working within the Commission to obtain details about the institution's internal operations.
The investigation, conducted under the supervision of European Commissioner for Anti-Fraud Piotr Serafin, did not, however, establish individual responsibility at the level of decision-makers. According to the document, no "serious" security incident could be established in connection with these facts. It was not possible to determine individual responsibility or involvement beyond the intelligence agents themselves, given the information gathered and the limited means at the Commission's disposal.
The report notes that the agents "used their official position to accomplish a concrete mission that appeared to exceed the usual tasks of diplomats assigned to a permanent representation". This year 2015 coincides with Olivér Várhelyi taking office as ambassador to the EU, at the head of Hungary's permanent representation. After the espionage affair became public, Mr Várhelyi, now European commissioner for health, denied having knowledge of the existence of this group of spies within the representation.
Source: HVG