The European Union is considering measures to tighten the handling of confidential information. This comes amid growing concerns about potential leaks of sensitive documents through certain member states and political forces suspected of ties to Moscow.
According to European diplomats, Brussels has increasingly been holding meetings in restricted formats in recent months, excluding representatives from Hungary and some German parliamentarians from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The reason: suspicions that confidential materials may be reaching Russian intelligence services.
At issue is the EuDoX database, to which all members of the German Bundestag have access, including AfD representatives. It contains thousands of internal EU documents: records of ambassadorial meetings, discussions on aid to Ukraine, plans for the use of frozen Russian assets, and other sensitive topics. European officials have expressed concern that such data could be passed on to the Kremlin.
A similar situation has developed around Hungary. The European Commission and EU diplomats have already restricted Budapest’s access to the most sensitive materials — following media reports alleging regular contacts between Viktor Orbán’s inner circle and Russian representatives, and the possible transfer of confidential information. In Brussels, Hungary is increasingly referred to as a “high-risk member.”
One senior EU diplomat noted: “We are taking all kinds of precautions to protect sensitive meetings and information. We are not sharing all data freely in a 27-country format as we used to.”
In response to these risks, the EU is discussing systemic changes:
Tightening access rules to confidential databases
Expanding the practice of holding meetings in “minority formats” (small coalitions of trusted countries)
Strengthening oversight of classified material distribution at the national level
AfD representatives have rejected the accusations, calling them politically motivated. The Bundestag has already taken some steps to restrict party staff access to certain systems, but the issue remains unresolved.
The European Commission and the Council of the EU are expected to put forward specific proposals to strengthen the secrecy regime in the coming weeks. Diplomats stress that, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and escalating hybrid threats, protecting internal data has become a priority for preserving the unity and effectiveness of EU decision-making.