Possibilities for intelligence cooperation at EU level

In an era of globalised security threats – from terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare and organised crime – European intelligence services increasingly rely on intensive international cooperation. New technologies enable the rapid and extensive sharing of sensitive data, while the transnational nature of threats forces agencies to cross national borders and build common networks, databases and coordination mechanisms. This cooperation has deepened significantly in recent years, making the European intelligence space one of the most integrated in the world. Paradoxically, this dynamic development of cooperation in the field of information gathering and exchange is contrasted by an almost complete absence of parallel progress in international oversight of intelligence services. Control and oversight remain largely a national domain, constrained by strict national rules and limited capacity to scrutinise cross-border activities. This asymmetric development raises fundamental questions about democratic legitimacy, the protection of fundamental rights and accountability in an era of massive intelligence sharing. This article addresses this imbalance, analysing the current state of European intelligence cooperation, mapping key institutions and information-sharing mechanisms, and, above all, examining weaknesses in transnational oversight. The aim is to highlight the risks stemming from the absence of effective international oversight mechanisms and to suggest possible ways to strengthen them in order to ensure a balance between security needs and the protection of democratic principles in Europe.