Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party having access to confidential EU documents is raising alarms that sensitive deliberations could be exposed to Moscow, according to three EU diplomats and four German lawmakers.
AfD MPs can view a databank containing thousands of EU files, including confidential ambassadorial notes on issues like plans to fund Ukraine using frozen Russian assets. Greens lawmaker Anton Hofreiter, chair of the Bundestag’s EU affairs committee, warned: “The problem is that we have a party, the AfD, of which there are justified suspicions of information leaking to China or Russia.”
These concerns are affecting how sensitive EU talks are conducted, with diplomats increasingly factoring in the risk of exposure. Media reports over the weekend claimed Budapest shared confidential EU discussions with Moscow—a claim Hungary’s foreign minister called “fake news.” EU states already meet in smaller groups to mitigate risks of leaks to Russian authorities.
One senior EU diplomat said, “We’re taking all kinds of precautions in Brussels to protect sensitive meetings and information. But the access that AfD MPs have to confidential materials leaves a giant, Putin-shaped hole in our security measures.”
Unlike other parliaments, all Bundestag MPs and aides have access to EuDoX, a databank of EU files, from summit briefings to ambassadorial meeting summaries. Around 25,000 documents are added each year, labeled “restricted,” the lowest level of classified information. While the system safeguards parliamentary oversight, it also increases the potential for leaks.
Several German lawmakers told POLITICO that AfD’s ties to Russia and their repeated contacts with the Russian embassy, trips to Moscow, and adoption of Russian propaganda narratives pose a serious security risk. Sensitive information exposed could include local drone defenses, Western arms transports to Ukraine, and knowledge of Russian sabotage and hybrid operations in the Baltic Sea.
AfD denies passing information to Russia or China. A spokesperson said, “We do not comment on baseless allegations.”
In response to concerns, the Bundestag administration has taken steps to secure information, including restricting access for some AfD staff to buildings and parliamentary IT systems. Lawmakers emphasize that AfD’s handling of sensitive information remains a serious worry due to a “broader pattern” of behavior.
