Discussions at this National Roundtable commenced with an acknowledgement by the participants that the global economic arena is no longer characterized by competition played out solely between businesses, but rather sees national economies pitched against each other ever more fiercely.
This trend has led to a gradual widening of the concept of “national security”, with many States now including economic and financial security within the ambit of this term.
The purview of intelligence and security services has thus changed: today, the scope of their activity does not merely extend to the gathering and processing of military and strategic information – as was the case during the days of the Cold War – and the prevention of terrorism, but also to safeguarding the cornerstones of a country’s competitiveness (such as, for instance, the technological assets of the country’s businesses, the ability of the latter to operate successfully in international markets, the stability of financial institutions, and the security of critical infrastructure).
It was noted that, in Italy, there has traditionally been scant debate over how to define and defend the national interest, thus giving rise to the need to cultivate a new “security culture”, by means of which those with leadership responsibilities and the general public can come to appreciate the problems that arise in this field and how intelligence services contribute to the protection of fundamental national interests.
The reforms passed in 2007 broadened the institutional mission of Italy’s two intelligence agencies (AISE and AISI) vis-à-vis the challenges posed by emerging and ever-changing international scenarios, whilst also strengthening the mechanisms for coordinating their respective activities, a role entrusted to the Security Intelligence Department.
The participants stressed that these reforms have not yet been fully implemented, and that their overall success would seem to hinge on measures being taken in two key areas. The first of these involves strengthening the catalyst role played by the Interministerial Committee for the Security of the Italian Republic, and, in parallel, ensuring a greater integration of intelligence services within government decision-making processes; the second entails the acquisition of new and qualified professional personnel to enhance the operational capabilities of Italy’s intelligence agencies and the quality of the intelligence they produce in fields of vital importance to the country’s security, such as IT, ICT and economic analysis.
To this end, the participants pointed to the pivotal importance of the role played by universities, which were called upon to improve the range of courses they offer in light of these new needs, whilst at the same time – including through transparent collaborative efforts with security intelligence agencies – embarking on study initiatives and scientific studies and providing opportunities for public discussion, all necessary prerequisites if the foundations of a new security culture for the country are to be laid.