Security experts call for European Intelligence Agency

The EU must boost its cyber security intelligence, security experts warned

A new report from Brussels think-tank the Security and Defence Agenda (SDA) has called for the setting up of a European Intelligence Agency to provide early warning on cyber attacks and other threats.

The SDA announced the first ever findings from its 'Security Jam', a global online brainstorming session on the challenges facing global security involving 4,000 military, diplomatic and civilian experts from 124 countries.

While most of the recommendations (PDF), aimed at Nato and the European Union, concerned physical security, the threat of cyber attacks was also considered and both institutions warned that they need to boost their intelligence in the area.

Central to this would be the creation of a European Intelligence Agency which should act as a "clearinghouse or trusted information broker that unravels complex hybrid threats for operational and strategic planning", said the report.

"With no physical and logical separation between defence, critical infrastructure and commercial interests in cyber attacks, the EU Intelligence Agency should map vulnerable targets and the possible fall-out after cyber attacks," the report noted.

"It needs to trace potential aggressors and promote the exchange of information between member states. Given the rapid evolution of IT, the European Intelligence Agency should also aim at effective public-private partnerships."

The report comes just months after the House of Lords called on the EU and Nato to take urgent steps to improve co-operation on cyber security, and to better co-ordinate their efforts with those of other world powers.

The House of Lords European Union Committee said that it was shocked by the lack of co-operation between the EU and Nato on cyber security matters, noting that there is considerable overlap between the two institutions.