A change of page in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as with the new Presidential Decree that came into force a few days ago, the service is undergoing a significant restructuring in both its organizational and operational structure.
The Presidential Decree on the EYP was published on April 4, 2024 in the Government Gazette, while the reorganization of the National Intelligence Service was deemed necessary in order to respond to the challenges of conventional and hybrid threats of the modern era.
According to government sources, the changes focus on the development of new structures and the introduction of innovative procedures aimed at achieving greater efficiency in dealing with modern threats in the field of National Security.
There will be three main pillars of the new EYP structure. It is about strengthening operational and analytical capabilities, administrative restructuring – training and accountability – extroversion.
In the first of them, the process of collecting primary informational material of the EYP is being upgraded. At the same time, a Directorate of Operations with the main role of collecting, exploiting and processing information, aiming to prevent threats against national sovereignty, to defend national interests, to protect the democratic state and its fundamental rights and to countering terrorism and organized crime.
At the same time, the single Directorate of Analysis that will be created will focus on conducting a thorough analysis of information, using data from the wide range of services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as cooperating services and co-competent bodies, with the aim of providing critical information and assessments to the competent authorities, for better addressing and preventing threats against national security.
Aiming at strengthening the interoperability between the service units of the E.Y.P. and to avoid the fragmentation of information, it is envisaged to strengthen the cooperation between these two Directorates, so that they constitute a cornerstone for the defense of the national interests and the security of the country.
When it comes to dealing with cyber-attacks and cyber-espionage, the relevant agencies of the National Intelligence Service will be strengthened by the integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and data analysis systems. Finally, for the best interactive response to specific threats against national security, the establishment of Operational Centers of a certain time and purpose is also foreseen.
Administrative restructuring – Education
In the field of administrative restructuring and training, an intelligence and counterintelligence academy will be established, while based on the new Presidential Decree, new personnel branches will be established according to the standards of foreign Intelligence Services, such as the branch of Information Operators, Information Analysts, Cyber Operators, Cyber Analysts.
According to the competent sources, the radical change in the recruitment process and in the training and retraining of all staff is closely intertwined with the above mentioned innovations. For the first time, a provision is included for a mandatory period of stay in the Service, which is set at ten years, and the revocation of the security authorization for the handling of information is directly linked to the possibility of transfer to other services for reasons of public interest.
At the same time, for the first time, the process of studying political personnel at the Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence Academy of the E.Y.P. is being introduced, where political personnel undergo mandatory theoretical and practical training. The theoretical training lasts up to eight months depending on the specialty. Probationary officers will also sit for final examinations after completing a two-year course and their tenure will require successful completion of studies within the prescribed time frame. Accordingly, for the first time, similar procedures are foreseen for the personnel of the Armed Forces and the Security Forces who are seconded to the E.Y.P.
Accountability and extroversion
Important axes of the organizational restructuring are the establishment of an Internal Audit Unit and a Press and Communication Office. The establishment of an internal control mechanism of the Service, through the establishment of the Internal Control Unit, which will be responsible for identifying and investigating cases of corruption and violation of the integrity of the staff and checking compliance with the security procedures of the Service, will contribute to more effective assurance of legitimacy, strengthening the accountability of its staff.
Through the establishment of the Press and Communication Office, an attempt is made to strengthen extroversion, always to the extent permitted for an Intelligence Service, and to build a relationship of trust between the Service and civil society.
An important role in the extroversion of E.Y.P. the Historical Archive and Historical Museum Service will also play a role, which aims to highlight its important role in history for the security of the country. By creating the Museum, the Service ensures the preservation of its history, making it accessible and understandable to the public. At the same time, the utilization of the Historical Archive, through the declassification of documents, will provide interesting information about the actions of the Service.
Finally, as government sources point out, the issuance of the Presidential Decree is the first decisive and legally necessary step for the restructuring and modernization of the Service. However, its provisions will be specified and explained through a series of internal institutional texts and detailed instructions, which will implement and promote the basic guidelines, which necessarily, in several places, are generally described in it.
Indicatively, the establishment of Operation and Knowledge Centers, the introduction of a code of ethics, the establishment of a new rating – list of duties, etc., the preparation of which is already in progress and which in combination and in addition to the regulations of the P.D. create a modern operating framework, leading the E.Y.P. in a new era.
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