The Greek government has enlisted a former senior MI5 officer to reform its intelligence services, the daily Kathemirini reported earlier this month.
The government has reportedly opted for a British model to restructure Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) in an optimal and effective way.
The changes are being initiated in the wake of the tapping of PASOK President Nikos Androulakis’ phone, which exposed long-standing problems linked to the country’s intelligence services.
The advisor is not being named, but a number of people, including former directors-general such as Stephen Lander, Jonathan Evans and Andrew Parker, might fit Kathemerini's description.
…he is reportedly a highly respected figure in the UK and has received the highest honors. He was an MI5 officer during the 1980s and 1990s and dealt with the terrorist threats arising from the Northern Ireland troubles and international terrorism. His contribution to the reform of MI5 is also linked to wider developments in the counter-terrorism field as they were initiated following the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The scandal in Greece is only one dimension of a waving of bugging revelations which began last year with a leak from the Israeli surveillance company NSO Group. The controversy has since widened amid evidence of bugging by other companies, including the North Macedonian firm Cytrox, which is alleged to have bugged Androulakis.
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