Thirty-five MEPs urge European Commission president to push for Várhelyi's resignation

Published on 24/10/2025 - 18:32 GMT+2

Thirty-five MEPs asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to push Hungary's European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi to resign, Euronews has learned.

The missive dated Thursday and seen by Euronews was signed by MEPs from 4 governmental groups: S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA and The Left.

Várhelyi, successful complaint of nan wellness and animal use portfolio, came to nan spotlight aft a associated investigation by respective European outlets claimed that Hungary's overseas intelligence work allegedly utilized Hungary's imperishable practice successful Brussels betwixt 2012 and 2018 arsenic a level to spy connected EU institutions and enlistee their officials.

These operations were allegedly partially carried retired while Várhelyi was Hungary’s ambassador to nan EU successful Brussels betwixt 2015 and 2019.

According to nan European Commission’s main spokesperson, von der Leyen had a speech complete nan allegations pinch Várhelyi, who said he was not alert of immoderate recruitment attempts while he was successful complaint of nan mission.

The MEPs who signed nan missive see that if nan revelations were recovered to beryllium true, spot successful Commissioner Várhelyi would beryllium earnestly undermined.

They asked von der Leyen to enactment successful accordance pinch Article 17 of nan Treaty connected nan European Union, which enables nan Commission president to unit a commissioner’s resignation.

The MEPs’ petition echoed a telephone from much than 60 academics from crossed nan EU, who are portion of nan Good Lobby professors' network.

According to nan group, nan alleged activities astir Várhelyi would look fundamentally incompatible pinch nan rule of independency required of each Commissioners, who must enactment solely successful nan wide liking of nan EU and not successful nan liking of their personnel states.

The European Parliament does not person nan powerfulness to require nan resignation of a azygous Commissioner, arsenic it tin only trigger a no-confidence ballot against nan full European Commission, which has been attempted 3 times successful nan past months.

But according to Parliament’s sources, MEPs could o.k. a solution calling for nan Commissioner’s resignation.