Director General Andrew Parker Speech to BfV Symposium, Berlin, 14 May 2018 / GCHQ Director addresses NATO on shared security threats

Text of a speech by the United Kingdom MI5 Director General Andrew Parker to the BfV* Symposium in Berlin on 14 May 2018 Hybrid Threats - Networked Answers. He offered his reflections on the shared hybrid threats that European nations faced from hostile activity by states such as Russia but also from international terrorism such as so-called Islamic State. He also talked about how a joined-up European security response was critical to tackling these threats.

MI5 and the other two main UK intelligence agencies, MI6 and GCHQ, wanted to maintain a close working relationship with their European counterparts after Brexit.

* The BfV (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz) was the domestic intelligence service of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Separately, the Director of the UK's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Jeremy Fleming gave a speech at NATO on the 19 June 2018 in whch he talked about countering global threats, the importance of European partnerships and the benefits of collective security.

CAPX, 20.06.18: On defence, the EU is shooting everyone in the foot https://capx.co/on-defence-the-eu-is-shooting-everyone-in-the-foot/

Politico, 08.05.16: Leaving the EU is a security risk for UK, say spy chiefs (the views of former head of MI5, Baron Evans of Weardale, and MI6, Sir John Sawers) (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/leaving-the-eu-is-a-security-risk-for-uk-say-spy-chiefs/

NATO: Press Release, 19.06.18: GCHQ Director addresses NATO on shared security threats https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news-article/gchq-director-speaks-about-security-cooperation-nato-headquarters-brussels

The Guardian, 19.06.18: Brexit row: GCHQ chief stresses UK's role in foiling European terror plots https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/19/barnier-uk-will-lose-access-to-eu-security-databases-after-brexit

Germany: BfV: Symposium, Berlin, 14 May 2018: Hybride Bedrohungen – Vernetzte Antworten / Hybrid Threats - Networked Answers https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/de/oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/symposium/symposium-2018

The Guardian, 13.05.18: MI5 chief: UK and EU intelligence sharing ‘never more important’ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/13/uk-and-european-intelligence-more-vital-than-ever-warns-m15-head

Wikipedia: Counter Terrorism Group (CTG) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter_Terrorism_Group

United Kingdom: Prime Minister's Office: News, 14.03.18: Novichok nerve agent use in Salisbury: UK government response (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/novichok-nerve-agent-use-in-salisbury-uk-government-response/

BBC News, 14.05.18: MI5 chief: Russia trying to undermine European democracies http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44104260

EurActiv, 14.05.18: British spymaster pleads for EU intelligence cooperation https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/british-spymaster-pleads-for-eu-intelligence-cooperation/

Politico, 14-18.05.18: UK and EU test limits of security partnership after Brexit https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-eu-test-limits-security-partnership-after-brexit/

United Kingdom: Department for Exiting the European Union: Policy Paper, May 2018: Framework for the UK-EU Security Partnership (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/framework-for-the-uk-eu-security-partnership/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

United Kingdom: Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 17.02.18: PM speech at Munich Security Conference: 17 February 2018 (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/pm-speech-at-munich-security-conference-17-february-2018/

UK: GOV.UK: Foreign & Commonwealth Office: News, 15.10.18: Foreign Secretary to highlight importance of continued European security cooperation https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-to-highlight-importance-of-continued-european-security-cooperation

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