The European People’s Party opposes creating a Parliament inquiry committee to examine spying suspicions concerning Hungary’s secret services, arguing that it would merely serve Viktor Orbán’s agenda to confront the EU. Progressive factions demand the investigation to commence without delay.
The European People’s Party rejects the establishment of an inquiry committee by the European Parliament aimed at investigating an alleged espionage network operated by Hungarian secret services in Brussels, citing concerns that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could exploit it for political gain.
In October, the European Commission initiated an investigation following multiple media reports accusing the Hungarian government of attempting to enlist EU officials in Brussels as informants.
According to these reports, the agents impersonated diplomats from the Hungarian Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, a post held by Olivér Várhelyi from 2015 to 2019, who currently serves as Hungary’s European Commissioner.
Progressive factions within the European Parliament are pushing to form their own parliamentary inquiry committee on this issue. The Greens, Socialists, and the Renew Europe liberal group advocate for the committee’s swift establishment.
However, the EPP, which is the largest parliamentary group, opposes this initiative.
Sources within the EPP indicate that the inquiry would «play into Viktor Orbán’s hands» ahead of a close election scheduled for April, wherein he faces a younger conservative rival, Peter Magyar, who also belongs to the EPP.
The group’s sources claim that an inquiry committee would provide a platform for the Hungarian prime minister to reinforce his domestic narrative against EU bodies and portray himself as «the protector» of the Hungarian people.
Nevertheless, pro-European progressive members argue that the inquiry is essential due to the gravity of the allegations. Both Hungary and Várhelyi have denied all accusations.
«It is important to ensure all facts are disclosed. The Parliament’s reputation might also have been compromised by this [spying operation],» Green MEP Tineke Strik, Parliament’s rapporteur on Hungary’s rule of law report, told Euronews.
«The question is not if espionage occurred, as it clearly did. The central issue is where the information gained through espionage was directed,» Hungarian Socialist MEP Csaba Molnár remarked to Euronews, implying that the alleged spying was conducted «on behalf of Russia and serving Putin’s interests.»
Euronews reached out to EPP chair Manfred Weber for a statement.
Will it go to the Conference of Presidents next?
An inquiry committee can be proposed with the support of just one-quarter of MEPs; however, it demands approval by a majority of the Parliament to be officially established.
The initial procedure involves the Conference of Presidents, which consists of the leaders of the political groups and the Parliament President, Roberta Metsola.
Decisions within the CoP are made by majority vote, with each leader’s vote weighted according to the size of their parliamentary faction. This grants the EPP a crucial role in approving the inquiry committee.
According to Parliament’s rules, inquiry committees have the authority to conduct fact-finding missions, summon witnesses, question EU or member state officials, and request assistance from national authorities during their investigation.
Unlike some national parliamentary committees, witnesses are neither required to appear when summoned nor obligated to testify under oath.