International cooperation

Germany rejects creating European intelligence agency

German intelligence officials on Thursday rejected the idea of creating a European intelligence service, which has been floated by leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We don’t need a European intelligence agency or any other additional European intelligence institution,” said Bruno Kahl, president of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND.

“Intelligence is better organized on the national level,” Kahl told a Bundestag intelligence committee.

In a speech last month, Macron called for creating a European intelligence academy“to strengthen links between our countries.” The European home affairs commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, last month suggested a united European intelligence system to help prevent terrorist attacks.