The 2024 Annual Report of the Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP) highlights several key threats and areas of action.
The 2024 Annual Report of the National Intelligence Service of Greece (EYP) outlines the key threats and challenges that Greece faces, as well as the strategic actions taken to address them.
This report covers the period from September 2023 to August 2024 and emphasizes the evolving landscape of national security.
Main Areas of Action
- Espionage and Terrorism: EYP prioritizes monitoring espionage activities and combating terrorism from various sources.
- Organized Crime: The report highlights a focus on international organized crime networks that pose threats to national security.
- Illegal Immigration: EYP tracks migrant flows and related activities that could endanger national stability.
- Cybersecurity: With a rise in cyberattacks, cybersecurity has become a critical area of action.
Key Threats Identified
- Military Conflicts: Ongoing wars in neighboring regions have implications for Greece’s security, necessitating vigilance against potential spillover effects.
- Espionage Evolution: Traditional espionage methods are being supplemented by new tactics, including disinformation campaigns and social media recruitment by foreign intelligence services.
- Illegal Immigration Trends: The increase in illegal arrivals is linked to organized crime, with smugglers exploiting migration for profit.
- Cyberattacks: EYP reported numerous cyber incidents, including DDoS attacks and ransomware attempts targeting both public and private sectors.
Strategic Responses
- Operational Reforms: EYP has restructured its personnel and operational frameworks to enhance capabilities in intelligence gathering and cyber defense.
- Cybersecurity Initiatives: The establishment of a Cybersecurity Operations Center aims to improve response times and coordination among government entities.
- International Collaborations: EYP has expanded its partnerships with foreign intelligence agencies, EU, and NATO to bolster collective security efforts.
Future Challenges
The report underscores several emerging challenges:
- Hybrid Threats: Foreign Information, Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), which concerns systematic campaigns to disseminate fake news and, through them, manipulate Public Opinion and ultimately destabilize society, constitutes a new asymmetric hybrid threat.
- Technological Advancements: The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence poses both opportunities and risks for national security, necessitating ongoing adaptation by EYP.
- Climate Change Impacts: Environmental changes are expected to influence migration patterns and could lead to social tensions within Greece.
The EYP’s 2024 Annual Report reflects a comprehensive approach to addressing both traditional and emerging threats while emphasizing the importance of innovation, collaboration, and preparedness in safeguarding Greece’s national security.
The report is available in Greek here.