In the wake of a series of foreign influence scandals involving the European Parliament and national capitals, EU officials are scrambling to address the escalating threat of espionage ahead of the June elections.
The European Parliament has been at the center of many of these scandals. In December 2022, accusations emerged that MEPs and their staff had accepted cash for influence from Qatar, Morocco, and Mauritania. Earlier this year, investigative outlet The Insider alleged that a Latvian MEP had worked with Russian intelligence officials for years. Just last month, Czech authorities sanctioned news outlet Voice of Europe, alleging it was a Russian influence operation. Days later, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo accused Russia of approaching and paying MEPs to promote Russian propaganda.
The latest revelation involves the arrest of a German national identified as Jian G., who worked as an assistant to a far-right MEP from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Investigators allege that Jian G. was also working for Chinese intelligence services. The MEP, who is a frequent advocate for closer relations with both Russia and China, has denied the allegations and stated that he would retain his position as lead candidate for the AfD in the upcoming elections while immediately dismissing Jian G.
The recent string of scandals has raised concerns among EU officials and citizens alike about the extent of foreign interference in EU institutions and its potential impact on the upcoming elections. The European Parliament is facing pressure to clarify the situation and take appropriate action before the elections to restore public confidence in the institution.
A draft resolution seen by DW indicates that MEPs are poised to express outrage at the involvement of members in the pro-Russian media outlet, Voice of Europe, while Russia continues its war against Ukraine. The resolution also highlights Russia’s systematic efforts to cultivate relationships with far-right and far-left parties and other actors within the EU to legitimize its illegal actions.
Concerns about espionage extend beyond the European Parliament. This week alone, arrests were made in Spain and Britain involving individuals suspected of spying for China. While Beijing has dismissed these accusations as politically motivated, the EU remains on high alert, particularly regarding Russia’s activities.
A 2022 report from the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI) found that Russia was behind most cases of espionage involving Europeans convicted between 2010 and 2021. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, EU countries expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats suspected of being intelligence operatives or associates.
The EU, which has taken steps to strengthen its counter-espionage efforts, recognizes the particular vulnerability of Brussels, which hosts both most EU institutions and NATO headquarters. Prime Minister De Croo has emphasized Belgium’s responsibility in this regard and, along with his Czech counterpart, has called for closer coordination and new sanctions tools at the EU level.
While cooperation among EU member states has improved in recent years, particularly on counterterrorism, intelligence remains a sensitive area where national authorities maintain considerable autonomy. As a result, there is room for improvement in sharing information and coordinating responses to counter malign activities.
The European Parliament, which relies on investigations by national authorities, has implemented transparency reforms following previous scandals. However, anti-corruption organizations such as Transparency International believe that the parliament has not gone far enough in protecting itself from malign influence and needs to implement more robust integrity measures and independent oversight.
