Von der Leyen Plans Her Own EU Intelligence Service

According to observers, the conflict centers on the establishment of a dedicated EU intelligence service, which would pool data from the national intelligence services of member states.

A report in the Financial Times suggests that this is intended to achieve “better operational use” of existing information – but in reality, EU diplomats suspect, it’s about giving the Commission and its president more influence. The existing intelligence center, Intcen, within the European External Action Service (EEAS) would be the main casualty – and thus Kallas herself.

The timing is not coincidental. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and Donald Trump’s threat to restrict American security guarantees for Europe, the desire for strategic independence is growing louder in Brussels. “Europe wants to become more independent, including in matters of espionage,” the Financial Times quoted an EU official familiar with the plans as saying.

But the proposal is not without its problems. Diplomats fear duplication of structures and power struggles within the already bloated EU apparatus. Furthermore, the plan has not yet been officially coordinated with all 27 member states. The proposal involves temporarily transferring national intelligence officers to Brussels – an unacceptable move for many capitals reluctant to share their espionage capabilities.

France and the Netherlands in particular are considered skeptical. Sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that resistance from member states is expected – but at the same time, there is growing pressure to reform ineffective security structures.

The project is still in the planning stages. But von der Leyen is pushing it forward with determination: after the rearmament initiatives of recent years – including the associated financing mechanisms – an EU intelligence service would be the next step towards a new European power architecture.