Intelligence-sharing in the European Union: Institutions are not enough

Abstract:

The European Union (EU) has developed three institutions to facilitate intelligence-sharing between its Member States: the Berne Group, Europol and the European Union Military Staff. These institutions serve the useful function of creating technical mechanisms for the diffusion of intelligence among national authorities. But they do not tackle the problem of mistrust, which is the key barrier to fully effective intelligence-sharing. This article shows that mistrust of the interests of other Member States inhibits intelligence-sharing, that existing institutions fail to overcome this mistrust and suggests changes that could lead to more effective sharing.