The new intelligence agency currently has neither a budget nor staff.
The European Commission (EC) will create a new intelligence body to enhance the effectiveness of data collected by national intelligence agencies. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing sources.
An unnamed EC representative told the FT that the Commission "is exploring ways to strengthen its security and intelligence capabilities." He added that "as part of this approach, the creation of a special body is being considered."
The official also noted that the concept of establishing a unit is in the development and discussion stage, and that "no specific timelines for implementation have been set." The establishment of such a body, he said, will be based on "the existing experience of the Commission <...> and close cooperation with the relevant departments of the European External Action Service." Another source from the newspaper emphasized that the EC and the intelligence services of EU countries must "consolidate all this data and become effective and useful for partners."
Representatives of the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre (INTCEN) opposed this initiative, fearing that the new body would duplicate their functions and could replace them in the future. According to sources, the plan to create a new agency has not been communicated to all EU countries. Some countries are expected to resist such initiatives.
The unit, which will be formed within the Commission's secretariat, plans to hire staff from across the EU intelligence community and collect intelligence information for common purposes, four people informed about the plans said.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump's warning about reducing American security support for Europe have prompted the EU to rethink its own security capabilities and begin the largest rearmament since the Cold War.
One of the interlocutors said: "The intelligence services of EU member states know a lot. The Commission knows a lot. We need a better way to bring all this together to be effective and useful for partners. In intelligence, you need to give something to get something."
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