EU plans to strengthen intelligence center INTCEN in new security strategy
Politico reports that the European Union is considering expanding the role of the Joint Intelligence and Situation Centre INTCEN as part of a new security strategy.
According to sources from the publication, the European External Action Service proposes to strengthen INTCEN by creating its own IT infrastructure and personnel unit. This should increase its role as a key channel for exchanging intelligence information between EU countries and the union's institutions.
At the same time, it is emphasized that the center does not engage in independent collection of intelligence data, but analyzes information provided by member states on a voluntary basis.
As Politico notes, the expansion of INTCEN's functions is being discussed as part of the new European security strategy, the publication of which is expected in the summer. The document should include an assessment of threats and proposals to strengthen the EU's defense and intelligence potential.
Earlier, an attempt by head Ursula von der Leyen to create a separate pan-European intelligence structure faced resistance from a number of EU countries and was suspended.
