The College (what is ICE?)

The Intelligence College in Europe is an intergovernmental entity, independent from European Union institutions, inaugurated on 5 March 2019 in Paris. It brings together the national intelligence communities of the European states that are party to the College.

The College brings together all the intelligence communities (civilian, military, homeland security, external security, and signals intelligence services) of European countries, national and European decision-makers, as well as the academic world. It aims at stimulating strategic thinking, thus developing a common intelligence culture.

In his speech on the future of Europe delivered on 27 September 2017 at the Sorbonne, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, proposed the creation of a “European Intelligence Academy”, which would serve as a crucible for the emergence of a common strategic culture.

In particular, he stated:

“What Europe lacks most today, this Europe of Defence, is a common strategic culture. […] But I propose right now to try to build this culture together, by proposing a European initiative […] aimed at developing this shared strategic culture. […] I would therefore like to see the establishment of a European Intelligence Academy to strengthen the links between our countries through training and exchange activities.^”

The initiative was renamed “Intelligence College in Europe” for its inaugural event in Paris on 5 March 2019. Of the 30 founding countries, seven of them chose to have a partner status allowing them to participate in certain College activities. These countries may eventually become Members of the College. The initial partners of the College are Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland

On 26 February 2020, 23 states met in Zagreb to sign the letter of intent establishing the Intelligence College in Europe and its governance framework, supported by 67 Services.

ENLARGEMENT

In recent years, ICE has increased the number of its full members to 25, as Switzerland and Bulgaria, which were partners from the beginning, have become members in 2023. In January 2024, a new country, Moldova, has become a partner, bringning the number of ICE partners to 6.

MISSIONS

The Intelligence College in Europe is a platform for reflection, sharing and outreach, stimulating strategic dialogue between:

• Intelligence communities in Europe allowing executives from different services to get together and compare their experiences at a non-operational level.
• Intelligence communities and Academia, through publications and the implementation of an academic programme dedicated to intelligence professionals.
• Intelligence communities and national and European decision-makers, but also citizens, in order to raise awareness about intelligence-related challenges and issues.