From 20 to 21 February, MEPs will visit the Hungarian capital Budapest to learn more about allegations of spyware abuse targeting journalists, the opposition and civil society.
To investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware, the European Parliament’s dedicated Committee of Inquiry (PEGA) has commissioned studies, held hearings with experts, and organised several fact-finding visits (so far to Israel, Poland,Greece and Cyprus). On 16 February, the Committee discussed the situation in Hungary in a public hearing in Brussels to set the stage for their visit.
During their two-day visit, the MEPs will speak with the leadership of the Hungarian National Assembly’s Committee on National Security, the President of the National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Dr. Attila Péterfalvi, journalists and NGO representatives. The MEPs have also requested a meeting with the Hungarian Government.The visit will conclude with a press point at Hotel President (Hold u. 3-5, 1054 Budapest) on Tuesday 21 February, 14.00 – 14.30.
Participating MEPs
Jeroen LENAERS (Committee Chair, Head of delegation – EPP, Netherlands), Sophia IN ‘T VELD (Committee Rapporteur – Renew, Netherlands), Juan Ignacio ZOIDO (EPP, Spain), Sándor RÓNAI (Committee Vice-Chair – S&D, Hungary), Róża THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (Renew, Poland), Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, Poland), Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA, France), Dominik TARCZYŃSKI (ECR, Poland), Ivars IJABS (Renew, Latvia), Gilles LEBRETON (ID, France)
The Committee’s findings will be summarised in a report (see here for a draft). It will also outline its recommendations for next steps (draft can be found here) that will eventually be tabled for a European Parliament plenary. Before that, all members of the committee can propose amendments to the drafts, and MEPs will vote on the final form of the texts later in the spring.
