My view – as a former diplomat – on the proposed intelligence unit under the President of the European Commission:

We are already struggling to share information effectively between European institutions, and even within EU Delegations around the world. What we truly need is to strengthen existing structures – not to duplicate them. Why create redundancy? Why foster mistrust? The EU’s Intelligence and Situation Centre (IntCen), part of the European External Action Service (EEAS), already handles threat assessments and situational awareness.

The priority must be to build trust among the intelligence services of EU member states. Creating a unit directly under the supervision of the President of the European Commission-as national heads of state do-risks going beyond healthy competition. In the current geopolitical crisis, such centralization and overreach are likely to generate even more suspicion and division.

An intelligence unit should be proportional to the functions of the European Commission.

Is this because of the war in Ukraine?  Every day, I see how we have lost sight of our problems and vulnerabilities. Instead of addressing insecurities, we are absorbed by geopolitics beyond our control.

Why do we not recognize that it is not our lack of willingness to support Ukraine, but our lack of capacity-and perhaps the need to avoid the risk of escalation that could lead to a global war? Why not be clear, allowing Ukraine to make its own choices, instead of letting a country at war believe we can solve this war when we know that China is supporting Russia?

Why do we not study and understand NATO’s history-and recall why the first Secretary General of the organization made certain observations about its functioning?

We saw this recently with the drones in Belgium: we coordinated support with EU Member States. Yet Member States can provide support independently. It is not NATO that obliges them; it is the country itself, providing support-of course, not for free. For me, NATO often feels like the emperor’s new clothes: a grand façade that can create the appearance of security and coordination, but in reality, sometimes hides the limits, contradictions, and failures of the system.

Addressing our insecurities is not just about controlling information or meetings, or  photo opportunity – it is about solving problems, speaking freely, and practicing transparency and honesty, showing our vulnerability and striving for peace.

Yet, with decisions like this-about spinning up personal units-we risk falling deeper into misunderstanding and mistrust. So sad! So sad!

We must apply risk management principles to every decision relating to our policies, internal or external. Coordinate, don’t centralize. Trust the people within the Commission and institutions, rather than relying solely on one person or one perspective.

This proposal makes me feel that President von der Leyen is increasingly isolated, standing alone in a complex and divided environment. Europe is stronger when we share, collaborate, and build trust – not when power is concentrated in a single office.

Diplomacy is not always about politics; it is about pragmatism and the careful balancing of European interests. That is the Europe I want to defend.

Vir: Cristina Vanberghen

Dr. Cristina Vanberghen je profesorica in vodja diplomatske službe na Yerevanski držav­ni univerzi (YSU), višja strokovnjakinja pri Evropski komisiji in Evropskem parlamentu, nekdanja diplomatka ter nekdanja namestnica ministra.