From 2008 to 2011 he briefly served as head of unit at the European Commission, in charge of industrial property rights at the Directorate General Internal Market and Services.

[3][2] His appointment was greeted by long-standing Orbán allies, including Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić and Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik.

[4] It was decried by several observers and enlargement experts, among other reasons for him not upholding criteria on democracy and the rule of law with regards to possible EU accessions.

[5][6] In his Parliamentary hearing, Várhelyi did not gather two thirds of votes, thus being subject to an additional round of written questions from MEPs.

"[11] In 2024 Várhelyi mentioned the attempted assassination of Robert Fico during phone negotiations with prime-minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze.

[15] His nomination was rejected after the first round, with European parliamentarians questioning his positions on areas including animal welfare and abortion.