Intelligence Cooperation in the European Union: An Impossible Dream?

Intelligence Cooperation in the European Union: An Impossible Dream?

There has been a shift in the intelligence and security strategies of the states since 9/11. The attacks created a new security environment in which intelligence has become increasingly significant. Not only have the responsibilities and tasks of intelligence agencies become more important, but the necessity for intelligence and security service cooperation among nations has also increased. Accordingly, intelligence agencies had to update their strategies to put more emphasis on collaboration. This article analyzes the current EU intelligence network and tries to answer whether full intelligence cooperation in the EU could develop into a discrete organization in the aftermath of 2004 Madrid, 2005 London and the 7 January 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks, or whether it is an impossible dream to have concerted action whereby states acknowledge their mutual alliances, interests, and strategies.

___

  • van Buuren, Jelle. Secret Truth. The EU Joint Situation Centre. Amsterdam: Eurowatch, 2009.
  • Clerix, Kristof. “Ilkka Salmi, the EU’s Spymaster.” Mondiaal Nieuws. Accessed May 24, 2014. http://www.mo.be/ node/3789.
  • Cross, Davis Mai’a K. “EU Intelligence Sharing and Joint Situation Centre: A Glass Half-Full.” Paper prepared for delivery at the Meeting of the European Studies Association, 2011. Accessed May 24, 2014. http://www.euce. org/eusa/2011/papers/3a_cross.pdf.
  • ––– . “A European Transgovernmental Intelligence Network and the Role of IntCen.” Perspectives on European
  • Cross, “European Transgovernmental Intelligence.”
  • Politi, “European Intelligence Necessary?” Politics and Society 14, no. 3 (2013): 388-402.
  • European Union Law. Military Staff of the European Union. Accessed August 17, 2010, http://europa.eu/legislation_ summaries/foreign_and_security_policy/cfsp_and_esdp_implementation/r00006_en.htm.
  • European Union External Action. “The European Union Satellite Centre.” Accessed May 25, 2014. http://www.eeas. europa.eu/csdp/structures-instruments-agencies/eu-agencies-on-csdp/eu-satellite-centre/index_en.htm.
  • European Union Military Staff. “Providing Military Capabilities to the EU.” Accessed August 20, 2010. http://www. consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/EUMS-June-2010.pdf.
  • Jones, Chris. “Analysis: Secrecy Reigns at the EU’s Intelligence Centre.” Statewatch 22, no. 4 (2013). Accessed May 24, 2014. http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/no-223-eu-intcen.pdf.
  • Lefebvre, Stéphane. “The Difficulties and Dilemmas of International Intelligence Cooperation.”International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence 16, no. 4 (2003): 527 -542.
  • Lemieux, Frederic. “Information Technology and Criminal Intelligence: A Comparative Perspective.” In Technocrime: Technology, Crime and Social Control, edited by Stephane Leman-Langlois, 139-68. Willan Publishing: London, 2013.
  • Müller-Wille, Björn. “The Effect of International Terrorism on EU Intelligence Co-operation.” JCMS 46, no.1 (2008): 49-73.
  • ––– . “EU Intelligence Co-operation. A Critical Analysis.” Contemporary Security Policy 23, no. 2 (2002): 61-86.
  • Nomikos, John. “Does the European Union Need a Common Intelligence Policy?” Accessed August 18, 2010. http:// www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/showArticle3.cfm?article_id=8661.
  • ––– . “European Union Intelligence Agency: A Necessary Institution for Common Intelligence Policy?” In Contemporary Issues and Debates in EU Policy: The European Union and International Relations, edited by Vassiliki N. Koutrakou. Manchester University Press: Manchester, 2004.
  • Politi, Alessandro. “Why is a European Intelligence Necessary?” In Towards a European Intelligence Policy, edited by Alessandro Politi. Institute for Security Studies, 1998.
  • Schreier, Fred. WMD Proliferation: Reforming the Security Sector to Meet the Threat. Virginia: Potomac Books, 2009.
  • Walsh, I. James. “Intelligence Sharing in the European Union: Institutions Are Not Enough.” JCMS 44, no. 3 (2006): 625-43.