EU Commission: Answer to a written question – Democratic oversight of the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre (INTCEN)

All Members of the European Parliament who intend to get EU INTCEN briefings must have a valid Personal Security Clearance (issued by the national authorities) to receive any classified intelligence in a restricted briefing room. The Director of EU INTCEN provides briefings, in compliance with the EU classified information (EUCI) rules, typically in Committee on Foreign Affairs ( AFET) and Subcommittee on Security and Defence ( SEDE) meetings(2) according to the ‘third party rule’.

EU INTCEN is not an Intelligence Service; it has no intelligence collection powers. It is an intelligence fusion centre, functioning based on finished intelligence, shared voluntarily by EU Member States’ Intelligence and Security Services(3). EU INTCEN fuses these inputs to provide classified assessments to EU decision-makers(4), according to a strict need-to-know principle, in respect of the ‘third party rule’ and the EUCI rules(5) (and Member States’ rules).

Member States’ Intelligence and Security Services also provide expert staff (Seconded National Experts and Temporary Agents) to EU INTCEN to support its work and to facilitate contacts with national services.