Istalia

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Reform of the Intelligence and of national security and defense governance

The Government pursues its plan to put in place an intelligence community aimed to provide the highest level of security for the nation and its interests

The newly appointed Secretary for National Security and Intelligence Giordano Capizzi explains the reform to the press

January 5629

ROMULA - Following the approval of the White Paper of Defense, the Government also presented the reform of the country's intelligence services, to once again provide Istalia with the appropriate tools to effectively address the challenges in the field of intelligence. The reorganization of the matter paid particular attention to ensuring the defense of the Istalian State and its institutions from internal and external threats, as well as protecting national interests in an increasingly complex and challenging global context.

The reform reorganize the intelligence services into the "National Community of Intelligence and Security Services" (CONSIS), a structure that will bring together and coordinate all the sectors of Istalian intelligence. At the top of CONSIS, the "Imperial Directorate for National Security and Intelligence" (DISIN) will be established, which will assume a role of strategic command and coordination between the various agencies. The CONSIS will depend from the Department for National Security and Intelligence of the Office of the Minister Imperial Secretary of State, headed by the Secretary of National Security and Intelligence.

Three general directorates with specific competences will depend on the DISIN:

• The "General Directorate of Intelligence and Survey" (DGIA), responsible for the information activity on threats to the security of the State from abroad. It will also have competence in counterespionage outside national borders and in the counterproliferation operations of strategic weapons and technologies.
  

• The "General Directorate of National Security" (DGSN) , responsible for the collection of information for the defense of internal security. It will be responsible for protecting national interests and carrying out counterespionage operations within Istalian territory.
  

• The "General Directorate of Communications and Cybersecurity" (DGCC), which will be responsible for the monitoring, collection and analysis of information for intelligence purposes, with a particular focus on SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) activities and the protection of national cyber security.
  

In addition to these departments, the "National Directorate for State Security" (DNSS), dependent on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Security, will also refer to the DISIN for coordination and support, being a specialized but autonomous department of the State Police. The DNSS will have the mission of defending the Istalian State, the democratic order and the constitutional institutions against any threat and form of subversion.

The DISIN will also assume a organizational and coordination function with respect to the "Defense Intelligence Service" (SID), the joint intelligence service of the Armed Forces that will coordinate and control the intelligence service of each branch, all of them called "Information and Situation Service". The new SID will be under the authority of the Chief of Defense Staff.
Once the Imperial Gendarmerie will be fully reorganized, its information service, the "Special Investigation Group" (RIS), will remain outside the authority of the SID, being oriented to counter organized criminality, terrorism and subversive activity within the country, but like the DNSS will also referer to the DISIN for coordination and support.

Alongside the reorganization of the Intelligence Services, the Government has ordered the creation of the "Directorate for Advanced Defense Research and Development" (DIRSAD), a department of the Ministry of Defense dedicated to the development of new military technologies and the analysis of technologies that could represent a threat to national security.

Furthemore, the management, advice and control structure of Intelligence and in general of National Security and Defense has also been reorganised: the "Supreme Council of National Defense" (COSUDIN) will be the highest institutional defense authority responsible for making highest level of decisions regarding defense and security. It will advise and assist the government on national security and foreign policy, analysing general and technical political issues relative to national security and defence. The Council also will serve the executive as main arm for coordinating these policies among the various government agencies. Headed by the Emperor, the council will be formed by the Minister Secretary of State, the Secretary for National Security and Intelligence, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, the Chief of Defense Staff and the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Gendarmerie.

Finally, the new "Congress Committe for Security and Defese" (COSDICON) will be the official name of the parliamentary committee called to checks in a systematic and continuous way the activities of the CONSIS so that they are carried out in respect for the Constitution and laws. The Committee will receive reports on a regular basis on the activity of the intelligence services, including an analysis of the situation and safety hazards, from the Office of the Minister Imperial Secretary of State, from the CONSIS and from the Defense Staff.
As part of its prerogatives, the COSDICON has the power to dismiss the state secret on documents and matters. On its own initiative, if document or matters related to the Armed Forces are involved, the agreement of the Armed Forces is requested. In turn, if the Armed Forces propose to dismiss the state secret, the COSDICON can oppose. Any case the state secret can be dismissed only if all members of the Committee vote at the unanimity.

With this reform, the Government aims to make the Istalian intelligence apparatus more efficient and reactive in the face of new global challenges, while ensuring rational management of resources and greater integration between the various structures responsible for the country's security.