It's pretty amazing - and a cautionary tale - what the European Union has become since its founding as, basically, an economic Euro co-op to, say, make Belgian strawberries available and affordable in Barcelona, Bologna, and all points in between.
Now the EU is in everyone's knickers so deep, from energy to food safety to approved transportation and an immigration tsunami, that it even has 'tissue guidelines' - although they swear that the rumors of a toilet paper ban are just that - rumors.
So far.
But when you're the Empress of all you survey, and when your icy glare sweeps across a landscape of mostly malleable subjects scraping the ground in abject obesience to do your bidding, well...it's kind of hard not to keep pushing your luck, you know?
And that's where EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is right about now. The only thing she doesn't have is her very own EU-run Stasi to keep an eye on the fealty of both her willing subjects and the Eastern European trouble makers who bark and squeak at her from the sidelines.
WHATEVER CRUELLA WANTS, CRUELLA GETS!
So she's out to get her one. She 'needs' it.
As hard as it is to believe, people are expressing some misgivings about the plan.
🚨BREAKING: Von der Leyen is setting up a new intelligence unit!
— Scarlett Karoleva (@Scaroleva) November 11, 2025
What could possibly go wrong? Another textbook example of how the EU seizes crises as an opportunity to gain more control and more power. And the evil plans of the EU to gain more centralization continue. pic.twitter.com/d9HDoU4duA
I can't imagine why - Ursula's such a dear lady, with a sterling reputation.
Die gefährlichste Politikerin Europas. Sie hat schon in Deutschland unendlich viel Schaden angerichtet und setzt ihr Zerstörungswerk mit Verbrennerverbot, Lieferkettengesetz, Green New Deal und jetzt einem neuen Geheimdienst fort.https://t.co/XpbJIXbzuG pic.twitter.com/DxTJPdFbse
— Dr. Dr. Rainer Zitelmann (@RZitelmann) November 12, 2025
The most dangerous politician in Europe. She has already caused infinite damage in Germany and continues her work of destruction with the combustion engine ban, the supply chain law, the Green New Deal, and now a new intelligence service.
Especially for an unelected bureaucrat with what are essentially unlimited powers over a continent.
NO WORRIES
I'm sure any plans she might have are being acted upon in the best interests of all Europeans. Right?
The European Commission is preparing for the creation of an intelligence service designed to work with European Union member states’ intelligence services.
The plan has not been officially presented to the 27 EU nations but would involve seconding personnel from national intelligence services to the new authority.
Some EU member states’ diplomats viewed the new unit as von der Leyen attempting to extend her power and influence.
Come on now, said the EU Commission spokesman. It's all in the planning stage, nothing's set in stone, we're only 'bolstering' security measures and units already in place, and whatever develops will be very small, very small.
None of this should be alarming in the least.
...The initiative is still at a “very early, conceptual stage,” but the plan reflects a wider effort to bolster the EU executive's security and intelligence functions, Commission spokespeople Balazs Ujvari and Paula Pinho told reporters.
The new body would build on existing expertise, complementing the work of the Commission’s Security Directorate and coordinating closely with the European External Action Service. The cell will be small in scale and will focus on coordination rather than duplication, the spokespeople said.
Most of the responses so far have been along the lines of 'She can kiss my asterisk.'
...Not everyone was a fan of the idea. "The half-crazy von der Leyen is now verging to full blown madness setting up her own Brussels-grown CIA," former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis posted on X.
BUT THE RUSSIANS AND TRUMP WAAH
Nope. So far, most EU countries aren't falling for the Russians in the tailpipe joke. All they see is yet another Cruella power grab in the works when she already acts like the imperial head of the continent.
...European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to create an EU intelligence unit that would gather information from member states' national security services, according to media reports on Tuesday.
The Commission said the outfit would make "better operational use" of existing data, but EU diplomats view it primarily as an expansion of von der Leyen's power, FT newspaper reported.
...Senior EU diplomats criticised the plan, fearing dual structures and power struggles in Brussels, according to reports. Some diplomats worry the move could damage their influence and careers.
The plan has not been officially presented to the 27 member states but would involve seconding personnel from national intelligence services to the new authority.
Two people familiar with the process said they expect EU capitals to resist giving Brussels new intelligence powers.
...The intelligence cell would work with the European External Action Service, but could reduce the influence of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas while strengthening von der Leyen's position, diplomats said.
🚨🇪🇺 Von der Leyen is going full rogue, pushing for a Brussels-made CIA.
— Global Dissident (@GlobalDiss) November 11, 2025
The EU plans a mega spy hub run by Ursula von der Leyen, pulling intel from all member states. One hub to rule them all. What could possibly go wrong? pic.twitter.com/DIL8LpetVN
You've got to give the old girl credit - there's nothing subtle about her Teutonic tenacity accumulating power.
She must be feeling the heat from the pushback because she chose this greatest hit to republish today.
Democracy is the foundation of our freedom.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 12, 2025
Democracy is the foundation of our prosperity.
Democracy is the foundation of our security.
The European Democracy Shield will protect and reinforce free speech, independent media, resilient institutions and a vibrant civil society. pic.twitter.com/0j4WAGIuPS
The second anyone trots out the 'defend democracy' bromide, you know whatever they're selling is rotten to the core.
She's getting eaten alive, but as she's basically one of the undead, it doesn't bother her.
If democracy is the foundation of freedom, surely your position as leader of the EU should be elected directly by the people?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 12, 2025
You won a direct mandate for the CDU in the Lüneburg legislative district (Lower Saxony) in the 1979 European elections.
— Emrah Erken 🔥🎺 (@AtticusJazz) November 12, 2025
That was the only time you were directly elected by the people. Later, you only attained your positions through appointments.
The fact that you, of all…
Exactly.
The EU is not a democracy. We don’t vote you! pic.twitter.com/S6jwvf81yw
— ✏️ Aama - gegen Krieg mit Russland 🇩🇪🤝🇷🇺 (@Aama591) November 12, 2025
It's about time the Empress got her head out of the imperial clouds and took a look at the wreckage she's strewn under her feet.
No trapping of political power is more seductive than a secret service.
...It isn’t clear what is driving Ursula von der Leyen’s latest flight of fancy. Perhaps she was emboldened by her staff’s success in making her texts with Pfizer’s CEO disappear without a trace. Or maybe she’s just bored with her other recent “bold” initiatives – for a new “European Bauhaus”, the “Small Affordable Cars initiative” or “the first ever European Affordable Housing Plan”.
Whatever the case, the Commission’s intelcell is certain to suffer a similar fate and soon be forgotten. Not only does the EU already have ample intelligence collection among its 27 members – it also has a central coordinator: Washington.
...That von der Leyen and her advisers don’t see that reality is further evidence that she is the wrong person at the wrong time to be heading the EU’s most important office.
As Europe slips ever deeper into economic stagnation, what it needs from the executive is for it to fulfil its core mission, not a secret mission – a better-functioning single market, a capital markets and banking union come to mind.
We don’t need “intelligence” to recognise that.
Get back to the business of BUSINESS vice being all up in everyone's business.
I don't think she can do it, and the temptation of having her own little Stasi corps might be too much to overcome.
So close.
SO close to having it all.
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