In a pivotal call for change, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has urged the European Union to establish a “fully fledged intelligence cooperation service at the EU level.” His recommendation follows a comprehensive report on the EU’s readiness for crisis and war, requested by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The report comes as Europe faces increasing threats from foreign operatives, particularly from Russia, whose agents continue to infiltrate EU borders.
Russia’s aggressive tactics have sown unrest across the EU — from espionage to sabotage attempts on vital infrastructure. To counter these risks, Niinistö’s proposal advocates for a central EU intelligence agency, capable of integrating strategic and operational intelligence from across member states. “We need to trust each other,” Niinistö stated, calling for a system to streamline intelligence and combat the fragmented defense measures across the bloc.
Why Now? A Response to Escalating Threats
The push for an EU spy agency underscores the growing security concerns within Europe as Moscow’s war in Ukraine continues to escalate. Russian agents have been found monitoring army training sites, attempting assassinations of key weapons industry figures, and even attacking undersea communication lines. The sheer breadth of the threats has exposed vulnerabilities in Europe’s collective security framework, with some capitals unable to respond independently to increasingly sophisticated operations.
Brussels, housing hundreds of institutions and embassies, has become a hotspot for espionage, with numerous diplomats expelled in recent years for alleged spy activity. Niinistö’s plan also calls for an “anti-sabotage network” to protect essential EU infrastructure and underscores the urgent need to “enhance counter espionage work in the EU institutions.” This, he argues, is crucial to preventing hostile foreign actors from infiltrating and influencing EU policies and institutions.
The Roadblocks Ahead: Member States’ Reluctance
Despite the call for a unified intelligence agency, there is notable resistance among EU member states, many of whom prefer to retain control over national intelligence operations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen herself acknowledged the challenge, stating, “Intelligence gathering is primarily the responsibility of member states.” However, she emphasized the need for improved data flow and information sharing between nations, which remains a cornerstone of Niinistö’s proposal.
The Five Eyes alliance, a longstanding intelligence-sharing pact between the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, serves as a potential model. While the EU is unlikely to form its own global spy network, Niinistö points out the benefits of pooling intelligence resources to match the bloc’s size and reach.
Building a Fortified Europe
Alongside an EU spy agency, Niinistö also advocated for an EU Preparedness Law, which would establish “principles, standards, and targets” for coordinated defense and security initiatives across member countries. This legislation aims to bolster the EU’s resilience against cyber threats, natural disasters, and acts of war by unifying and strengthening each country’s capacity to respond to crises. Niinistö highlighted the bloc’s cybersecurity deficit, noting a shortfall of nearly a million cybersecurity experts.
The recommendations in Niinistö’s report come as von der Leyen prepares for her second term, which will include appointing the EU’s first-ever defense commissioner. This new role will involve crafting a white paper on defense, due by spring 2025, to address how Europe can respond to growing threats and consolidate its defense capabilities.
As Europe considers Niinistö’s vision of a unified intelligence body, the stakes remain high. With threats at its doorstep and the war in Ukraine far from over, the EU’s path forward may hinge on how swiftly it can unify its intelligence efforts. Will the continent step up to face these threats, or will national reluctance keep the EU vulnerable to the shadow agents already in its midst?
Sources for this article include statements from European officials and details from Sauli Niinistö’s report on EU security readiness.
