Shadow Summit: The Best Intelligence Agencies in Europe - The Full Ranking

The world of intelligence organizations largely remains in the shadows, but the French magazine L'Express has examined the sensitive question of who ranks as the "best" among European intelligence services, excluding the American CIA and the Israeli Mossad. The British lead the list, followed by the French and the Ukrainian intelligence services, which have demonstrated remarkable capabilities during the war against Russia.

To compile the list, 60 intelligence experts and former agents from 25 countries were interviewed. Participants were asked to rank their top five agencies, with 5 points awarded for first place and 1 point for fifth.

"Only the best from Oxford and Cambridge": The British winning secret

The British MI6 secured first place with 251 points, over 80 points ahead of France's DGSE in second. The Dutch intelligence service AIVD rounded out the top three with 97 points.

The significant lead held by MI6 is attributed to its exceptional ability to recruit human intelligence (HUMINT) overseas. Robert Gourlay, a former CIA agent, noted: "Britain has by a large margin the strongest intelligence services in Europe. The MI6 is exceptional."

A former French intelligence officer added that the British possess a unique ability for long-term planning and a penchant for intricate tactical maneuvers. Another French agent, Olivier Mass, noted that the organization serves as an inspiration and that "only the best from Oxford and Cambridge join the service."

France secured second place thanks to the DGSE's diverse capabilities, which combine technological tracking, human intelligence, and field operations, alongside their extensive expertise on the African continent.

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The Ukrainian intelligence phenomenon

Ukraine reached a notable fourth place (77 points), surpassing Germany (62 points). Experts praised the boldness, creativity, and willingness of Ukrainian services to take high operational risks.

One European intelligence officer compared the Ukrainian services directly to the Mossad, noting their "exceptional creativity and ability to carry out particularly complex operations." Examples cited included the "Pavutyna" (Spider Web) operation and the targeted elimination of senior Russian army commanders.

Additionally, Estonia stood out in eighth place due to the excellence of the VLA service in cyber and open-source intelligence (OSINT). Conversely, the former agents chose not to award a single point to Hungary, Bulgaria, or Slovakia.

Europe's top ten intelligence agencies:

1. MI6 (UK) - 251 points

2. DGSE (France) - 169 points

3. AIVD (Netherlands) - 97 points

4. SBU and GUR (Ukraine) - 77 points

5. BND (Germany) - 62 points

6. SÄPO (Sweden) - 40 points

7. PST (Norway) - 34 points

8. VLA (Estonia) - 27 points

9. ABW (Poland) - 22 points

10. DSIS (Denmark) - 16 points