Military Intelligence in Support of EU Missions and Operations: Bridging the Strategic Vulnerability Gap

Abstract The broad range of European Union (EU) missions and operations sets out the requirement of strategic awareness and situational assessments for effective fulfillment of operational tasks in the areas of EU-led activities. Building on the concept of coercive isomorphism, this article argues that intelligence support for common security and defense policy activities has been limited and contentious because of the vulnerability gap caused by patterns enforced by member states. Priority for national interests and assets hinders the logic of reciprocity. It lowers the value of synergetic links between the intelligence services of member states and relevant EU agencies and bodies. Regardless of numerous obstacles and limitations, the strategic vulnerability gap has been slowly bridged thanks to the development and implementation of more reliable mechanisms of intelligence cooperation within the EU.