SPD hopes intelligence services reform strengthens cooperation with foreign partners amid new threat landscape

SPD parliamentary vice-chair Sonja Eichwede expects that the intelligence service reform will strengthen the cooperation of German intelligence services with foreign partners.

"Today we are facing a new threat situation that requires equipping our intelligence services with new powers," Eichwede told the newspapers from the Funke media group (Friday editions). These powers include capabilities that would allow the intelligence services to gather better information and actively defend against attacks in emergencies. According to Eichwede, the services must be able to work on equal footing with allies, which will foster cooperation and increase security.

The Bundestag is set to finalize a vote on the government's intelligence service reform on Friday. This will grant German services increased surveillance powers. In the future, they will be able to actively counter threats with counter-attacks.

Eichwede stated that the reform would also involve deeper and more effective control over the intelligence services. In the future, essential measures taken by the services must be reviewed beforehand, according to the SPD politician. Furthermore, the rights of the Parliamentary Control Committee will be strengthened, and oversight of intelligence service powers by the Independent Control Council will be expanded.