Will a Finn take over the SitCen?

The current head of Finnish National Security (SIPO), Ilkka Salmi, may well be the next head of SitCen, the Situation Center (aka European Intelligence Services). He thus succeeds the Frenchman Bergamini, who has been acting since the departure of the Briton Shapcott, and had been, for a moment, expected to take over as head of the services. But apparently it was the Finn who was ultimately chosen, according to Helsinki. No confirmation, for the moment from the side of the High Representative, or it is specified that the decision has not (yet) been taken. But according to our information, the decision could be imminent; the entry into office being scheduled for 1 December at the latest.

Having directed the SUPO for three years, 41 years old, it is a junior who thus arrives at the head of the "Services Department". Born on December 20, 1968, a law graduate from the University of Turku (1992) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels, Flemish side, 1993), Ilkka Salmi began his career in a private law firm , became adviser to the national coalition party (Kansallisen Kokoomus) in Parliament and then in the European Parliament, as special adviser (1995-1996). Adviser to the Prime Minister's office (2001) then special adviser to the Minister of the Interior, Ville Itälän (2002), he then joined the SUPO in 2004, of which he became one of the main leaders, with a particular specialty in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism. He was also adviser to the Minister of the Interior, Anne Holmlund.

What about the Defense Agency?

In addition to the SitCen, several sensitive positions are currently at stake, in particular that of the director of the European Defense Agency. The position became vacant after the departure at the end of the mandate of the German, Alexander Weis. The final interviews are taking place right now. Among the three candidates are in the running - a Finn, a French (one) as well as an Italian - it is the Italian general, Carlo Mingrassi, current number 2 of the agency, who seems the favorite.

A little French slap

If these two appointments were to be confirmed (which has not yet been done), it would be, in a way, a small slap in the face for the French diplomatico-military apparatus. Bernard Kouchner may have welcomed, a little hastily and a little loudly, the appointment of Pierre Vimont to the post of executive secretary general of the diplomatic service (SEAE).

On the French side, it is for the moment rather Trafalgar... After having failed to obtain any "big" post in the first wave of appointment of ambassadors (the French appointed come from the European Commission, and all the candidates from the Quai d'Orsay did not succeed in passing the last stage, hearings by the High Representative), France could thus see two strategic positions which were close to his heart escape him (SitCen and Defense Agency). France would thus pay, in cash, the leading position obtained in the diplomatic service.

In general, we are also witnessing in the European crisis management structures a reflux of the tricolor wave. Apart from Claude-France Arnould at the CMPD, civil-military planning directorate, the French have found themselves reduced to a bare minimum since the departure of Bentegeat from the Military Committee. At the Military Staff, there are no more French citizens in the first levels. And the civil staff (CPCC) is currently headed by a Dutchman, Klompenhouwer (whose mandate ends in the spring).

This situation could be quite anecdotal if it did not reflect a certain state of mind which seems to reign in Paris. Where the Europe of Defense seems the "youngest of the worries" and the promise to push the Europe of Defense, forgotten...