After the scandals of the wiretapping of the senior leaders of the European Union by American spy agencies, including the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the EU seems to be taking measures to prevent such a thing from happening again.
The Union is building an €8 million secure bunker in Brussels so leaders can discuss secrets without Russian or other eavesdroppers, according to an EU memo outlining the project, EUobserver reported.
The bunker can hold about 100 people, up to 34 managers and their 34 secretaries, as well as protocol, technical and catering staff.
The EU has 27 member states but could expand in the future, and the safe room will also be used for lower-level meetings by ambassadors and senior EU officials.
The room will be offline, but equipped with indoor conference technology with a large screen and wired microphones to accommodate up to 30 interpreters.
In order to prevent eavesdropping, the meeting room and booths will be isolated so as not to allow the use of electromagnetic and radio waves generated by IT screens and wires, which can be eavesdropped remotely.
Anyone who enters, even if he is a cleaner, must have a "BE SECRET" security certificate and a reason that justifies entering the "bunker".
"EU SECRET" is the second highest level of security classification of the Union.
It covers information that could "seriously damage" EU interests if leaked. Information leaks could "raise international tensions" or "threaten life" or "public order" in Europe, according to EU security guidelines.
EU leaders and staff will also have to leave their phones, laptops, smart watches, electronic keys in soundproof lockers outside the room.
The facility will be built by 2024 in the EU Council complex in Brussels, which already hosts summits. The exact location has not yet been decided, but officials are looking for somewhere close to the normal EU summit hall so leaders can get around more easily.
A decision to build it comes after Russia reignited war in Europe by invading Ukraine and amid EU plans to create a joint armed force alongside NATO.
Two Russian spies recently expelled from Belgium were specialists in interception of signals.
But China and Israel have also been implicated in EU wiretapping scandals in Brussels in recent years.
It will provide an “appropriate level of comfort for VIPs (furniture, chairs, etc.) and appropriate fixed decor (eg flags, but not flowers or other frequently replaceable items).