From Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver:  Ilkka Salmi, the 42-year-old head of the Finnish security service the Suojelupoliisin, has been appointed as the new director of the EU’s intelligence-sharing bureau, the Joint Situation Centre (SitCen). …

Some contacts in the EU institutions would have favoured an older candidate from a larger member state which has an intelligence relationship with China, Russia and the US or a proven expert on the Middle East and Islamist terror threats in Europe.

The relatively junior stature of Mr Salmi has also raised concern that Ms Ashton does not plan to give SitCen a big role in her crisis management structures or to pump money into extra capabilities. …

SitCen’s primary role is to write flash reports and medium-term security analyses for Ms Ashton’s cabinet and the member states’ Political and Security Committee (PSC) based on classified information sent in to its Brussels office from around 20 EU countries and on open source information harvested by a team of 15 analysts, soon to be expanded to 21.

Mr Salmi’s counterpart in the PSC, PSC president Olof Skoog, is a Swede, giving a Nordic flavour to the EEAS’ security leadership. Ms Ashton has also decided to keep French diplomat Patrice Bergamini by her side as a special advisor on intelligence and security matters, however.  (photo: YLE.FI), (via Global Europe)

Image: yle%2012%2020%2010%20ilkka%20salmi.jpg