In her latest report, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has put forward an exciting idea: she wants the European Union (EU) to establish a brand-new intelligence agency to help deal with threats from outside the EU. This proposal has sparked a lot of discussion and debate among EU leaders and experts.
The Push for a United Front
Mikael Valtersson, a former Swedish Air Defense officer, shares his thoughts on von der Leyen’s plan. He believes that her call for a united intelligence agency is part of a bigger vision. Valtersson argues that some people in the EU are pushing to make it more like a federal state, similar to the United States. This means creating a stronger central government that has more control over the member countries.
According to Valtersson, this desire for a more unified EU isn’t just about safety; it’s also about power. He points out that there are two opposing forces within the EU: those who want to strengthen the federal aspect and those who resist it. The federalists were constantly looking for reasons to create new institutions that would centralize power.
The Role of External Threats
Valtersson explains that the push for a new intelligence body often uses the idea of external threats, particularly from countries like China and Russia, as justification. He suggests that these threats are sometimes exaggerated to rally support for federalizing the EU.
However, not everyone agrees with von der Leyen’s proposal. Some EU member states, like Hungary and Slovakia, are wary of giving more power to central EU institutions. They fear that sharing sensitive intelligence with a European agency could be dangerous, especially if they see that agency as a potential threat to their own national security. For these countries, trusting a centralized intelligence body feels almost like sharing secrets with an enemy.
Bureaucratic Challenges Ahead
Valtersson also highlights another significant issue: the EU’s complicated bureaucracy and slow decision-making processes. This makes some countries hesitant to fully embrace a federal intelligence agency. They worry about becoming subordinate to a body that may not react quickly enough in times of crisis.
Moreover, if a European intelligence agency were to be successfully established, it could eventually compete with intelligence agencies in the United States. This prospect could be unsettling for the U.S., which prefers a Europe that is divided and follows its lead.
A Divided Opinion
As discussions continue, opinions on von der Leyen’s plan are mixed. Some EU members see it as a necessary step toward greater security, while others view it as a threat to their sovereignty. The debate highlights the underlying tensions within the EU about how much power should be centralized versus how much should remain with individual countries.
As the EU grapples with external threats and internal divisions, von der Leyen’s proposal for a new intelligence body raises important questions about the future of the union. Will it move toward a more united, federal structure, or will it remain a collection of independent nations? Only time will tell how this intriguing situation will unfold.
