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EU Intelligence Analysis Centre (EU INTCEN)
Fact Sheet
The EU Intelligence Analysis Centre (EU INTCEN) is since 2002 the exclusive civilian
intelligence function of the EU, providing in-depth analysis for EU decision makers.
Its analytical products are based on intelligence from the EU Member States'
intelligence and security services.
The European Union needs timely intelligence to make wise policy decisions in order to maintain 'a secure
Europe in a better world' (European Security Strategy).
EU INTCEN's mission is to provide intelligence analyses, early warning and situational awareness to the
High Representative Catherine Ashton and to the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The Centre does this by monitoring and assessing international events, focusing particularly on sensitive
geographical areas, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other global threats.
EU INTCEN also offers its services to the various EU decision making bodies in the fields of the Common
Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Counter
Terrorism (CT), as well as to the Member States.
EU INTCEN's main functions/tasks:
Provide exclusive information that is not available overtly or provided elsewhere to the High
Representative / Vice President and the PSC, based on contributions from Member States'
intelligence and security services;
Provide assessments and briefings and a range of products based on intelligence and open sources
to the High Representative / Vice President and to the EEAS, to the various EU decision making
bodies in the fields of CSFP/CSDP and CT, as well as to the Member States;
Act as a single entry point in the EU for classified information coming from Member States' civilian
intelligence and security services;
and
Support and assist the (President of the) European Council and the (President of the) Commission in
the exercise of their respective functions in the area of external relations.
History
The creation of the EU INTCEN - or the EU Situation Centre (EU SITCEN) as it was called until 2012 - is
intimately linked to the establishment of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and the creation
of the post of High Representative in 1999. The development of the ESDP crisis management capabilities,
and deployment of both civilian and military missions, made it clear that a broader intelligence analysis
structure was needed. The events of 11 September 2001 and the increasing threats of global terrorism also
emphasised the need of timely and accurate intelligence analysis to support EU policy making.
Therefore, in 2002, EU SITCEN was established as a directorate of the Council General Secretariat, directly
attached to the office of the High Representative. The same year, staff from Member States' intelligence
services was seconded to EU SITCEN.
In 2005, EU SITCEN was reinforced by the arrival of a team of national experts seconded from Member
States’ Security Services. This enables the Centre to provide its customers with strategic terrorism threat
assessments based on intelligence from national services.
Since 2007 the EU SITCEN is working together with the EU Military Staff (EUMS) Intelligence Directorate in
a so called Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (SIAC). All intelligence assessments issued to Member
States are joint products prepared under SIAC.
With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, EU SITCEN came under the authority of
the new High Representative Catherine Ashton. EU SITCEN was transferred to the European External
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Action Service (EEAS) on 1 January 2011. Following restructuring, the EU SITCEN was renamed the EU
Intelligence Analysis Centre (EU INTCEN) in March 2012.
Sources, products and services
EU INTCEN's analytical products are based on information provided by Member States’ security and
intelligence services, open sources (media, websites, blogs etc.), diplomatic reporting, consular warden
networks, international organisations, NGOs, CSDP missions and operations, EU Satellite Centre, visits and
fact-finding missions.
EU INTCEN offers its customers the following products:
Situation Assessments (updated every 6 months) - long-term strategic papers, mainly based on
intelligence.
Special reports - either follow-up of a crisis or an event, or a thematic paper focusing on a specific
topic of current interest.
Intelligence summaries
- focusing on current important events with a short intelligence based
analysis.
Risk Assessments (updated every 6 months) - focusing on risks for EU personnel in given country.
In addition to these products, EU INTCEN also offers a variety of web based tools, and gives ad-hoc
briefings (to HR, EUSR, Council bodies, European Parliament, etc.)
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European External Action Service - EEAS
Postal address:
EU Intelligence Analysis Centre (EU INTCEN)
European External Action Service
Tel:
+32 2 584 11 11
EU Intelligence Analysis Centre
E-mail : xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxxxxx.xx
B-1046 Brussels
Internet : http://www.eeas.europa.eu
Belgium
Content last updated 2012-04-19/CBE
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