Creates the National Intelligence Center and regulates its operation and oversight

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. It creates the National Intelligence Center, which replaces the Higher Center for Defense Information. Its mission is to provide the President of the Government and the Government with information and analysis to prevent dangers or threats against Spain and its institutions.
2. The Center is subject to the law and its activities are subject to parliamentary and judicial oversight. The Government approves its goals each year through the Intelligence Directive, which is secret.
3. The Center obtains and analyzes information inside and outside Spain, detects activities by foreign services that threaten the State, cooperates with other intelligence services, and coordinates information technology security.
4. Its activities, means, personnel and facilities are classified information with the degree of secrecy. It may use covered means and its members may hold a weapons license, although they are not law enforcement officers except in specific cases.
5. The Center is attached to the Ministry of Defense and operates with autonomy as a public body. A Government Delegated Commission, chaired by a Deputy Prime Minister, coordinates the State's information services.
6. The Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) oversees the Center's activities through the committee that controls reserved spending, with access to classified matters except sources and means. Prior judicial oversight is regulated in a complementary organic laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes..

Who it affects

• The Government and the President of the Government: They receive information and analysis from the Center to prevent risks, and approve its annual goals.
• Staff of the National Intelligence Center: They are governed by a single statute approved by the Government, with selection based on merit and ability.
• The Congress of Deputies: It oversees the Center's activities through a committee whose members must keep secrets.
• Members of the Center: They may act under cover and carry a weapons license, but they are not law enforcement officers in general.

Words worth knowing

Organismo público especial (special public body)

A public entity with its own legal personality and functional autonomy to manage its resources, budget and personnel.

Directiva de Inteligencia (Intelligence Directive)

A secret document through which the Government sets the Center's goals each year.

Información clasificada (classified information)

Information that can only be accessed with authorization, due to its secret nature under official secrets law.

Medios bajo cobertura (covered means)

Reserved means and identities that allow acting without revealing the true identity of the person acting.

Ley Orgánica (organic law)

A law reserved for especially important matters; in this case, it regulates prior judicial oversight of the Center.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries