Hungarian spy activity allegations coincide with Health Commissioner's time as Orban’s chief diplomat
Commissioner Várhelyi was Orban’s top EU ambassador during a period when Hungary was reportedly spying on the European institutions
A cross-border investigation by independent Hungarian outlet Direkt36, working with Belgian and German media partners, has uncovered details of a long-running Hungarian espionage operation in Brussels between 2012 and 2018.
During much of that period, Olivér Várhelyi, now the EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, held senior diplomatic positions at Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the European Union.
Várhelyi was a deputy at the Hungarian Permanent Representation from 2011-2015, then became Head of the Representation from 2015, until his appointment as a commissioner in 2019.
“IH officers [Hungary’s foreign intelligence agency] spying under diplomatic cover were officially employed at Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the EU, headed between 2015 and 2019 by Olivér Várhelyi—who has served as a European Commissioner since 2019.”
While there is no evidence that Várhelyi personally engaged in or directed espionage, sources told the outlet he would have been aware that “espionage activities were taking place at his embassy, and to some extent, which of his diplomats were involved.”
Known for his close alignment with the Orbán government, Várhelyi was senior to the IH officers stationed under diplomatic cover. One source familiar with the operations said he “visited the IH leadership several times and gave them lectures about EU affairs.”
A Hungarian official working at the European Commission recalled that around 2017–2018, Várhelyi seemed to know precisely which Hungarian staff members were involved in preparing reports critical of the Orbán government.
Spokesperson Balazs Ujvari answers questions on report of Hungarian spying on the EU © European Union
In response to these findings, the European Commission announced it will “set up an internal group to look into these allegations.” A Commission spokesperson added that there is “no indication Commissioner Várhelyi has breached any of his obligations,” noting that all members of the College of Commissioners are subject to the institution’s Code of Conduct and prior parliamentary scrutiny. However, as this story has just emerged, it is unlikely that MEPs would have had knowledge of what are still allegations.
When Olivér Várhelyi was Commissioner for Enlargement he was criticized for allegedly promoting Hungarian PM’s Viktor Orbán’s agenda over that of the EU. In particular, Várhelyi was accused of favouring Serbia and overlooking democratic concerns in other neighbouring countries.