The European Commission, the main governing body of the EU, recently sent a serious warning to its staff: spies are everywhere in Brussels, and no one is safe from their watchful eyes. According to an internal memo, shared via email with EU officials, espionage—spying—has become a “real” and growing problem. In Brussels, often considered a “spy capital,” the Commission is urging everyone to stay alert because undercover agents could be lurking in plain sight.
Brussels isn’t just the administrative center of the EU; it’s also home to NATO and nearly 100 other international organizations, along with about 300 foreign embassies and diplomatic missions. This mix of powerful institutions makes it a magnet for spies from around the world, all seeking information and influence. The memo even says that hundreds of intelligence agents are actively working in Brussels, targeting EU institutions and trying to gather secrets.
In a surprising twist, the memo warns that spies can disguise themselves as nearly anyone. While they might look like friendly diplomats, scientists, journalists, lobbyists, or even PhD students, they could be gathering sensitive information. The Commission emphasized that anyone could be a target—whether a high-ranking official or someone just starting out in their career.
This isn’t the first time Brussels has sounded the alarm about espionage. Back in 2019, EU staff were told that spies from various countries, particularly Russia, were filling the city. This concern has only intensified, especially since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, leading to suspicions that Russia’s spy network in Brussels has grown even stronger. In March 2022, Brussels went so far as to expel dozens of Russian diplomats, accusing them of being undercover agents.
For some officials, the situation is so concerning that they’re even calling for the EU to create its own intelligence agency—essentially, an “EU CIA”—to combat the rising threat. And according to Belgian security agencies, foreign intelligence officers make up as much as 20% of the staff in certain embassies.
The European Commission’s warning highlights an unsettling reality: the very city where global decisions are made has become a prime target for espionage, creating a high-stakes game of cat and mouse in Europe’s political heart. In Brussels, appearances can be deceiving, and vigilance is now a must for anyone working there.
