European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is reportedly retracting her initiative to create a personal spy unit under her authority after encountering significant opposition from other EU leaders. The proposal, which was first put forth in November and aimed at countering perceived hybrid threats from Russia, has faced scrutiny particularly from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Concerns about von der Leyen consolidating power have added to the resistance against the initiative.

The initial plan called for an intelligence-gathering unit to operate across the EU and report directly to von der Leyen, representing a significant shift in how intelligence operations could be managed within the EU. However, as opposition grew, officials revealed that the proposal is now likely to be modified, with the unit's status being reduced from an intelligence cell to a security unit. This would mean that most intelligence-sharing responsibilities would continue to reside with the EU foreign service center, INTCEN, overseen by Kallas.

This development reflects a broader concern within the EU about the balance of power among its leaders and the potential implications for collective intelligence efforts. As threats from external actors such as Russia remain a pressing issue, the ability of the EU to coordinate and effectively respond to these challenges may be affected by the scaling back of von der Leyen's direct control over intelligence operations. The situation underscores the delicate nature of governance within the EU, where individual ambitions must be weighed against collective action.