Brussels: In a major move aimed at strengthening Europe’s collective security architecture, the European Union is preparing to set up a new intelligence coordination unit under the leadership of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The initiative, first reported by the Financial Times and later cited by Reuters, is designed to centralize intelligence gathering and improve data-sharing among member states amid escalating geopolitical and security challenges.
The proposed intelligence unit will be housed within the secretariat-general of the European Commission. According to official’s familiar with the development, it will include personnel drawn from the intelligence and security agencies of various EU member countries. The body will focus on compiling intelligence from national sources, assessing shared threats, and disseminating information across European institutions to strengthen decision-making at the Union level.
While the plan remains under discussion, it signals a turning point in the EU’s strategic outlook. For years, intelligence operations have remained tightly guarded within national boundaries, with limited exchange of information between states. By forming a central intelligence mechanism, the Commission aims to bridge these gaps and create a unified structure capable of addressing cross-border threats with greater efficiency and speed.
The decision comes amid a rapidly evolving global security environment marked by cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, organized crime, and hybrid warfare operations from hostile actors. European security agencies have repeatedly warned that fragmented intelligence sharing leaves the continent vulnerable to coordinated external interference. The new unit is expected to enhance Europe’s ability to identify, analyze, and respond to such threats before they escalate.
Observers believe the intelligence unit could also play a crucial role in safeguarding EU institutions from espionage and digital infiltration. By consolidating resources, the bloc hopes to counter both traditional intelligence threats and emerging digital dangers targeting European democracies.
However, the initiative is not without controversy. Intelligence remains one of the most closely guarded areas of national sovereignty, and several member states are likely to raise concerns over sharing classified information with a supranational entity. To address these sensitivities, the Commission is expected to introduce robust confidentiality and data protection measures, ensuring that national interests are respected while promoting collective security.
Analysts note that the project’s success will depend heavily on trust among EU members and the clarity of the framework governing how data will be collected, stored, and used. Without consensus, the plan could face pushback from countries reluctant to loosen control over their intelligence networks.
The formation of a centralized intelligence unit also represents an institutional shift within the European Commission. Traditionally seen as a policy and regulatory body, the Commission is now taking on a more active role in security and intelligence coordination signaling a deeper evolution in the EU’s governance model.
If realized, the new body would complement existing EU security structures such as Europol and the European Union Intelligence and Situation Centre (EU INTCEN), but with a broader mandate to coordinate high-level intelligence across political and strategic domains.
The European Commission is expected to outline formal details of the project in the coming weeks, including staffing models, oversight mechanisms, and the budgetary framework. Discussions are ongoing with member states to determine how personnel will be seconded, what levels of clearance will apply, and how data-sharing protocols will be standardized.
As Europe faces an increasingly unpredictable global landscape from Russian hybrid operations to cyberwarfare and economic espionage the establishment of this intelligence unit could mark the beginning of a more integrated European defense posture. It underscores the EU’s growing recognition that information dominance and intelligence coordination are indispensable to preserving both security and sovereignty in the 21st century.