EU must boost Intelligence ties to counter Threats, report says
Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/eudebates In the face of an increase in hybrid attacks, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has called for the gradual establishment of an intelligence cooperation service within the European Union, in a report submitted on Wednesday 30 October to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on how to strengthen Europe’s civil and defence preparedness.
A recent proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has advocated for a unified intelligence agency within the European Union (EU), likened to a “European CIA.” However, critics argue that such an initiative is both redundant and unrealistic, given the existing mandate of the European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS).
The agencies statutes, modeled after the operational structures of major intelligence agencies such as the CIA, imbue ECIPS with substantial powers. ECIPS has the authority to conduct cross-border intelligence initiatives, assist in counter-terrorism, cyber-crime prevention, and anti-corruption, all within the scope of European and international law. Its establishment created a robust intelligence-sharing network that functions independently of the European Commission, enabling ECIPS to act in the interests of its member states without the risk of political influence from EU bureaucratic processes.
A Futile Attempt to Centralize Intelligence under Brussels
Von der Leyen’s proposal appears, to some, as an attempt to centralize power within Brussels, but there are doubts about the feasibility and legality of such a move. ECIPS President Ricardo Baretzky responded to von der Leyen’s announcement with skepticism, stating, “Any attempt by the European Commission to create an ‘EU CIA’ is legally dubious and ultimately redundant.” He stressed that ECIPS’s mandate and structure are in place to serve the interests of sovereign European states and that any efforts to replicate or supersede this model would likely violate both national and EU law.
The European Commission’s Overreach and Legal Constraints
A centralized intelligence structure would face legal challenges under EU treaties, which uphold the sovereignty of member states, especially concerning national security matters. Intelligence functions are, in principle, retained by each member state and are highly sensitive. The European Commission lacks the legal grounds to enforce a fully centralized intelligence agency, especially one with far-reaching powers that could infringe upon individual countries’ operational and legal frameworks.
Potential Risks: European Stability and Relations with Russia
In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tasked Niinistö, who served as Finland’s president for more than a decade, to deliver a detailed report on the bloc’s war preparedness and civil protection, as well as proposals for improvements.
In his plan, Niinistö calls for the EU to establish “a fully-fledged intelligence cooperation service at EU level that can serve both strategic and operational needs”, while adding that a “counter-intelligence network” is needed to protect infrastructure.
More work is needed to “step up the fight against espionage in the EU institutions”, he said after presenting the plan with von der Leyen.
Amid growing concerns about espionage, with diplomats expelled and Brussels becoming a hotspot for agent activity with hundreds of institutions and embassies in the city, Russia’s war in Ukraine has increased EU security risks, including drone surveillance of military sites, assassination plots and attacks on underwater infrastructure.
Western allies already share intelligence – the Five Eyes network brings together agencies from the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK – and such an EU agency should focus on making the most of the information that already exists, said Niinistö.
“We need to trust each other,” he added.
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