Intelligence and European security in the aftermath of Brexit: an Italian perspective

Abstract

The Italian perception of Brexit is complex, at any level, and the intelligence and security dimensions do not represent anexception. The general view on this matter is that the exit of the UK from the European Union (EU) should not pose any special challenge in terms of traditional security issues: the UK and most EU members are member states of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with the ensuing obligations in matters of collective security. Dramatic shifts are not expected either for what concerns intelligence services. If it is true there are friendly nations, but not friendly intelligence services’, Italy and the UK have a long tradition in terms of exchanges, and cooperation – both successful and unsuccessful - which has always happened outside of any EU setting. What is probably going to change is what affects law enforcement and extradition procedures, where EUROPOL has instead proved effective, and where it is not clear how the new arrangements are going to be.