EU Commission demands Hungary explain Lavrov leak reports
European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on February 26, 2026 (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
The European Commission has requested clarification from Budapest following reports that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó regularly disclosed the contents of closed EU ministerial meetings to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said at a Brussels briefing as reported by Ukrinform on March 23.
"Reports that Hungary's foreign minister allegedly disclosed information from a confidential ministerial-level discussion in the EU Council to his Russian counterpart are a matter of serious concern," Hipper said.
“Confidential relations between member states and between member states and EU institutions are fundamental to the functioning of the EU, and we expect the Hungarian government to provide clarification.”
No additional details were provided at the briefing, including to whom the request had been sent or by whom. Commission spokespeople declined to say whether any internal investigations would be launched or whether security protocols at meetings would be strengthened, citing the need to verify the initial reports.
When asked whether the European Commission had restricted Budapest's access to information circulating within the EU executive, Hipper noted that the media reports remain at the level of unconfirmed allegations. She added that the Commission "is in daily contact with all member states" on a wide range of issues.
On March 21, The Washington Post reported, citing sources, that Szijjártó had regularly briefed Moscow on the proceedings of EU meetings — calling Lavrov to provide what one source described as "live readouts of what was being discussed" and possible EU decision options.
"Through such calls over the years, Moscow was essentially present at the table at every EU meeting," a European security official was quoted as saying.
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