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Posted on Oct 23, 2024 / Politics

Finland's 12th President Sauli Niinistö, who left office in March, has prepared a report on increasing the European community's resilience to crises on behalf of the European Commission.

The author of the report believes that the EU should create a full-fledged intelligence agency to counter threats from foreign countries, as well as "react decisively" to espionage within the bloc. The agency's sources said that the new EU intelligence service, according to Niinistö's proposals, should collect its own intelligence on threats emanating from other countries and directed against the bloc. At the same time, the service should not duplicate the functions of national agencies.

The EU does not have its own intelligence service, and EU officials analyze publicly available sources and data received from EU member states, which limits the ability to identify and respond to potential threats, the report says.

Niinistö is expected to propose expanding the powers of the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre, a body that unites the bloc's intelligence services. In particular, according to sources, the centre could engage in intelligence gathering, including with the help of European diplomats.

In addition, Niinistö proposes introducing uniform laws in EU countries regarding espionage and illegal covert activities so that individual states do not become safe havens for spies. It is also proposed that diplomats from third countries who pose a threat be subject to restrictions on movement within the EU.

Sauli Niinistö is expected to publish the report next week, that is, in late October or early November. According to sources, the draft report may be amended by the time of publication.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has commissioned Sauli Niinistö to prepare a report in March 2024. As Bloomberg notes, the report was prepared against the backdrop of growing risks such as Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in the eastern EU, conflicts in the Middle East, China's growing influence, and the emergence of new hybrid threats, such as migration crises orchestrated by Russia and Belarus.

The European Commission officially declined to comment.

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