A German court convicted a former aide to a far-right MEP of spying for China after he gathered classified documents from the European Parliament to hand over to Beijing.
A German court has convicted a former aide to a far-right Member of the the European Parliament of espionage, ruling that he collected classified documents to pass on to Chinese interests.
According to the ruling, the man used his access within the Parliament to gather information over several years, and liaised with proxies in China to transmit the intel. The verdict underscores mounting concerns among European institutions about foreign influence and infiltration.
The accused denied acting at “the behest of a foreign power” but acknowledged providing information. The court rejected his defense and imposed a prison sentence.
Officials in Brussels and Berlin said the case will trigger tighter security protocols in EU bodies. “We must not allow institutions of the Union to be undermined by outside powers,” one senior parliamentary source said.