EU clears Hungary’s Várhelyi in Brussels spying probe

Published on 08/05/2026 - 16:34 GMT+2

The European Commission has cleared Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi of allegations linked to a reported spying web that targeted Commission staff, closing an interior probe without uncovering grounds of idiosyncratic wrongdoing.

The announcement came a time earlier Hungary’s incoming Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, is owed to instrumentality bureau pursuing his landslide predetermination triumph past month.

The determination means Várhelyi tin stay successful his relation arsenic EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.

In October, respective media outlets reported that Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the EU successful Brussels had tally a web of quality officers posing arsenic diplomats who targeted the Commission's Hungarian unit betwixt 2012 and 2018.

The operatives were allegedly seeking delicate files related to Hungary and attempting to enlistee Hungarian EU officials.

The Commission launched an interior investigation, which has present concluded. A spokesperson said determination was nary grounds that immoderate Commission unit had been successfully recruited.

"Based connected the accusation gathered during this probe and with the tools that we person astatine our disposal wrong the Commission, it is not imaginable to property idiosyncratic work oregon engagement beyond that of the quality officers themselves," Commission spokesperson Balázs Ujvári said.

Várhelyi was drawn into the probe due to the fact that helium served arsenic Hungary’s ambassador to the EU betwixt 2015 and 2019, during portion of the play nether investigation. He was aboriginal nominated arsenic EU Commissioner by then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Last year, Várhelyi denied immoderate cognition of the alleged network. He reportedly told Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that helium “was not aware” of the activities.

During his clip arsenic ambassador, relations betwixt Budapest and Brussels deteriorated sharply amid disputes implicit the regularisation of law, ideology and media state successful Hungary.

Várhelyi is wide seen arsenic a adjacent state of Orbán, whose Fidesz enactment mislaid past month’s election. He has besides regularly attended events organised by the Patriots for Europe, a far-right governmental group.

Magyar, who himself served arsenic a diplomat astatine the Hungarian Permanent Representation successful Brussels betwixt 2011 and 2015, said successful October that Várhelyi "did not uncover the full truth" astir the spying allegations.