The European Union should open its own intelligence agency. The idea was put forward by former Finnish president Sauli Niinistö.
In March, Niinistö - who has been Finland's president for more than a decade - was tasked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with the task of drawing up a detailed report on the bloc's war and civil defense preparedness. , together with proposals for improvement.
In his plan, Niinistö suggests the EU develop "a comprehensive EU-level intelligence cooperation service that can serve both strategic and operational needs", while adding that the Union needs "a anti-sabotage network" to protect the infrastructure.
More work is needed to "increase counter-espionage work in EU institutions", he said after presenting the plan together with Von der Leyen.
Many diplomats have been expelled from capitals following accusations of espionage and Brussels has become a hotspot for agent activity with hundreds of institutions and embassies based in the city.
Western allies share intelligence – with the Five Eyes network linking together agencies in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom – and such an EU agency should focus on making good use of information already operational, said Niinistö.
"We have to trust each other," Niinistö added.
Security agencies should also "make it as difficult as possible for hostile foreign intelligence services to operate anywhere in the EU," he said.
Niinistö's findings will be implemented during Von der Leyen's second term, in which the EU will have its first Defense Commissioner, who will be tasked with drawing up a defense strategy by spring.