Von der Leyen Seeks Enhanced Intelligence Capabilities for EU Commission, Faces Resistance from Member States
Plans by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to bolster the Commission’s intelligence gathering capabilities are meeting with skepticism from EU member states, according to reports from the dpa news agency. the proposal centers around establishing a new intelligence unit within the Commission’s General Secretariat.
Member states are reportedly pointing to the existing Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (Siac) as sufficient for coordinating intelligence information. Siac comprises the Center for Information Acquisition adn Analysis (Intcen) and the military intelligence structure EUMS INT, already serving as a central collection point for intelligence from national services in Brussels.
The Commission argues that a dedicated unit would strengthen its security and intelligence work in the face of growing geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges. Specifically, officials highlight concerns regarding covert attempts at economic influence by external actors and hybrid threats, including the manipulation of migration patterns.
According to information reported by the Financial Times, the proposed unit would receive intelligence from national services and be staffed, in part, by experts seconded from the secret services of member states.
Commission representatives also suggest the Commission possesses valuable knowledge that could complement existing intelligence efforts. They note that intelligence work is frequently enough a reciprocal process and believe the Commission has relevant expertise to contribute, particularly given that Intcen currently operates under the European External Action Service, led by EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas.
The future of the plans remains uncertain. A Commission spokesperson described the initiative as being in a ”very embryonic stage,” and emphasized that the new agency would be designed to complement existing services,likely consisting of only a small team of experts.
Critics within the member states point to recent guidelines outlining an expanded role for Siac, which is currently undergoing restructuring to provide increased support to the Foreign Service, the Commission, its Security College, and the Council of Member States.
Source: dpa/rct**
