site.btaEC Seeks Clarification from Budapest over Alleged Sharing of EU Meetings Information with Moscow

The European Commission (EC) said that it is seeking clarification from Budapest over allegations that Hungary has been sharing information from meetings of the Council of the European Union (EU) with Russia. The topic was discussed by EC Deputy Chief Spokesperson Arianna Podesta and Lead Spokesperson Anitta Hipper at a press conference on Monday. 

Reports that Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has been passing on data from closed European meetings are very concerning, the spokespersons agreed, stressing that trust is fundamental to the functioning of the EU.

The spokespersons added that the EC expects the Hungarian Government to provide clarification, noting that, for the time being, the claims remain allegations.

According to several international media outlets, Szijjarto has been relaying, in real time, the content of closed-door discussions among his European counterparts to Moscow. According to The Washington Post, the Hungarian Government has reportedly been informing Russia for some time about sensitive discussions within the EU.