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Pressure has mounted on Hungarian European Commissioner for Health Oliver Varhelyi after multiple media outlets reported that a spy ring was run from the Hungarian Permanent Mission in Brussels when he was ambassador.
The spy organization reportedly actively recruited Hungarian nationals as informants to gain access to Hungarian secret files.
It is unclear whether Mr. Varheli was aware of the embassy’s covert intelligence operations against EU institutions. But now European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to discuss the issue with Mr Verhelyi.
“It is President von der Leyen’s intention to raise the matter with President Vaheli as soon as possible,” European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho told reporters.
On Thursday, the commission announced the creation of an internal working group to begin investigating the allegations.
Most of these activities are said to have taken place between 2012 and 2018, when relations between Budapest and Brussels soured over issues related to the rule of law, democracy and press freedom in Hungary.
From 2015 to 2019, the embassy was headed by Mr. Verhelyi.
EU legal expert asks whether Varhelyi can stay
In a letter to the European Parliament seen by Euronews, 60 professors from 30 European countries questioned whether Mr Varheli would be able to continue as director.
The letter, signed by Good Lobby professors including Alberto Alemanno, warns MPs that the alleged activities around Mr Verheli are fundamentally inconsistent with the principle of independence required of all committee members.
These principles, along with the principle of loyalty to the European Union, are enshrined in the Treaty of European Union (TEU), which obliges commissioners to act only in the general interests of the 27-member Union and to refrain from actions that are inconsistent with their mandate.
The academics, who earlier wrote to the head of the parliamentary committee that approved Mr Varheli’s candidacy for the post, said the issue could undermine trust in EU institutions.
Transparency International (TI) called on the European Parliament to set up a commission of inquiry into the issue. TI says a swift and decisive coordinated response is needed.
“If true, the shameful allegations that Hungary was trying to spy on the EU itself would further demonstrate (Prime Minister) Viktor Orbán’s flagrant disregard for the rule of law across the EU,” said Nick Aiossa, director of Transparency International.
So far, neither Hungary’s permanent representative in Brussels nor Varhelyi have responded to the allegations since they were made public.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó downplayed the issue when asked about the allegations in the Hungarian parliament on Thursday.
