Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has called for improved collaboration among European intelligence agencies, proposing a central body to coordinate intelligence efforts across the EU.

In a report commissioned by the European Commission, Niinistö emphasizes the need for the EU to be better equipped to handle both civil and military crises, including conflicts and extreme weather events. This report was officially presented to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.

With Europe facing an increase in "hybrid" and “aggressive” actions from foreign powers like Russia, Niinistö stresses that the EU’s intelligence capabilities require strengthening. “The intelligence structures of the European Union must be progressively strengthened,” he writes, suggesting that this could eventually lead to the creation of a centralized European intelligence coordination service. Such a service, he argues, would foster greater trust and cooperation among EU member states.

As a first step, Niinistö recommends expanding the staffing and authority of the European Union Intelligence and Situation Centre (EU-IntCEN) to allow it to take on a more substantial role in EU intelligence operations.

Historically, EU member states have closely guarded their national intelligence, which may pose a hurdle to forming a shared European intelligence entity. However, there is increasing support from prominent EU figures for such an initiative. Leaders such as former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and European Council President Charles Michel have also championed the idea of a European intelligence body akin to the CIA or FBI, which would bolster the EU's ability to confront common threats. Photo by Jim Mattis, Wikimedia commons.