The more things change, the more they stay the same: an assessment of the implications of Brexit for intelligence agencies both in the UK and in Europe

摘要

The practical business of counter-terrorism and counter-espionage in the EU is conducted through bilateral (very occasionally trilateral) relationships between security services. This is largely due to the third party rule: the recipient of intelligence from one state cannot pass it on to a third party without the originator’s agreement. Britain’s intelligence relationships with other European countries are conducted on a bi-lateral basis, rather than through the EU. These relationships are largely governed by utility, rather than sentiment or political considerations. Brexit will not change this. Pragmatism and a sense of shared threats will trump political considerations.