Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský has responded to Brussels Watch’s October 2025 report,
How Russian Govt Undermined the Work of European Institutes
warning that current EU safeguards are no longer enough to confront sophisticated hybrid influence operations.
In his reply, obtained by Brussels Watch, Zdechovský said the European Parliament’s transparency and ethics rules provide “a necessary baseline” but are “no longer sufficient” against authoritarian actors, including the Russian Federation, which he said use intermediaries, front organisations, opaque funding structures, and pseudo-analytical networks to shape EU decision-making.
Brussels Watch’s report documented how Kremlin-linked actors exploit weak oversight, undisclosed lobbying, and disinformation to influence European institutions. Zdechovský’s response directly addresses those concerns, arguing that existing rules must be strengthened to expose indirect contacts, hidden funding, and covert influence channels.
Transparency and oversight
Zdechovský said the biggest weakness in the current system is that it does not adequately capture indirect influence. He called for stronger scrutiny of foreign-linked actors, more robust disclosure of both financial and in-kind benefits, and better coordination between ethics bodies, investigative mechanisms, and security services.
“Transparency must be enforceable and verifiable,”
he wrote, warning that otherwise it becomes
“a procedural formality rather than an effective safeguard”.
Office safeguards
The MEP said his office applies a strict approach to external engagement, especially on sanctions, energy policy, disinformation, and foreign interference. He said this includes due diligence on organisations and interlocutors, critical assessment of invitations and cooperation offers, and a refusal to accept any opaque benefit or undeclared advantage.
He added that positions taken by his office must be based on verified information, democratic values, and the strategic interests of the European Union and the Czech Republic.
Reform agenda
On broader reforms, Zdechovský backed stricter transparency rules for third-country funding, mandatory registration for organisations and consultancies acting on behalf of foreign interests, and stronger scrutiny of media and research entities used for disinformation or influence operations.
He also called for stronger due diligence in institutional cooperation and improved intelligence-sharing between EU institutions and member states.
Scrutiny and consequences
Zdechovský said he supports stronger parliamentary scrutiny of foreign-linked networks seeking to influence EU policymaking, but argued that any inquiry must be evidence-based, legally sound, and empowered to access documentation and examine cross-border influence structures.
Where credible evidence exists, he said the Parliament must be prepared to act decisively, including through stricter rules, sanctions, and enforcement measures.
Broader message
In closing, Zdechovský framed Russian hybrid operations as an attack on trust itself, saying they target institutions, democratic processes, and the rule of law. He said the EU must be “firm, realistic, and prepared to defend itself,” adding that “naivety is no longer an option”.
Brussels Watch’s report and Zdechovský’s response together reinforce the growing political pressure for deeper transparency reforms and stronger defenses against foreign interference in EU institutions.
