Is the European Parliament under threat from espionage?

Fears are mounting that the EU's democracy could be under threat from espionage.

Transcript

00:00With the European Parliament elections just six weeks away, fears are mounting that democracy in the EU could be under threat from spies.

00:08Despite experts warning about state-sponsored intelligence operations for several years,

00:13Germany is the latest European country to be rocked by a spying scandal.

00:17Political professor Dr. Hajo Funke says the AfD is one of the most dangerous parties in Europe.

00:23There have always been accusations against Maxime Lacroix,

00:28there have always been accusations against Bistron.

00:30They are two very radical representatives within the legal system of this party.

00:37And yes, it may be that the authorities liked the time to uncover the whole thing.

00:48The arrest and firing of the advisor to AfD's European Parliament,

00:52top candidate Maximilian Kraff as spying for China, has shaken the party.

00:57The German Bundestag met to discuss Russia and China's threat to European democracy.

01:03Your shop, Mr. Kupala, serves the Russian president.

01:08The political role model of your party is the Communist Party in China.

01:14All this is becoming more clear every day.

01:17And all this shows that the AfD is a disgrace for this house and for our whole country, ladies and gentlemen.

01:24The Alternative for Germany party has distanced itself from Krah,

01:28who denies being involved with the espionage.

01:31Earlier this month, AfD's second European candidate, Peter Bistron,

01:35also denied accepting 20,000 euros from a pro-Russian portal.

01:39But these allegations could be just the tip of the iceberg,

01:43with experts warning that authoritarian networks are using espionage tactics

01:47to gain political, military and diplomatic advantages across Europe.

01:52Liv Stroud, in Berlin, for Euronews.