An internal European Commission investigation has confirmed the activities of a Hungarian intelligence network that attempted to recruit EU officials of Hungarian origin between 2013 and 2016 to obtain confidential information. Politico reported this, citing an internal European Commission document.
According to the document, Hungarian intelligence officers operating undercover at Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels deliberately established contacts with European officials of Hungarian descent. Their primary objective was to obtain information on matters of interest to Viktor Orbán’s government.
The investigation was initiated by EU Anti-Fraud Commissioner Piotr Serafin. It revealed that Hungarian intelligence agencies had deployed several officers to the mission, where they operated under diplomatic cover.
The network’s activities sparked serious concern within European institutions and contributed to the strained relations between Brussels and Budapest.
There has been no official response from the Hungarian side regarding the latest findings of the European Commission’s investigation.