Media: Hungarian spies tried to recruit European Commission staff

Hungary has likely maintained spies in Brussels for years and even attempted to recruit staff from EU institutions, according to a joint investigation by German newspaper Der Spiegel, Belgian newspaper De Tijd and the Hungarian outlet Direkt36.

The journalists say they have found the first evidence that Hungarian agents in Brussels tried to recruit a European Commission employee.

An unnamed source who worked at the European Commission at the time said that a sociable man known as "V" attempted to recruit him to work for Hungary's foreign intelligence service in exchange for money. The source refused. "V" was officially based in Brussels as a diplomat between 2015 and 2017.

The same source added that "V" showed keen interest in internal affairs within the European Commission and in various rumours, while suggesting ways to get more Hungarians appointed to key positions in EU institutions.

Officials from informed state institutions confirmed these claims to the journalists.

The investigation also uncovered a document from the Hungarian representation to the EU indicating that "V" was officially listed as an employee of the Cohesion Policy Department, working under Olivér Várhelyi, then-ambassador to the EU, now Hungary's long-serving European Commissioner.

In 2017, "V" had become too conspicuous due to reported pressure from Budapest to deliver faster results.

The journalists inquired about his current whereabouts and discovered that he now holds the rank of lieutenant colonel and works at the National Information Centre, an agency that consolidates information from all Hungarian intelligence agencies.

Várhelyi declined to comment, while his spokesperson stated that there was "no evidence" of any wrongdoing.

"V" also ignored the journalists' requests for comment.

Der Spiegel claims that journalists identified two more suspected Hungarian spies who drew attention during the same period.

In late 2024, Direkt36 and De Tijd published an investigation revealing that Hungarian intelligence services had spied on EU officials.

Earlier reports indicated that concerns over Hungary's position towards the North Atlantic Alliance have led NATO to restrict information sharing, particularly intelligence, with Budapest.