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       ... EUROSINT, the European Open Source Intelligence forum, attracted an audience that one rarely sees in the same room in this city: intelligence specialists from national defense and interior ministers; the European Defense Agency; the European Commission; prime ministerial cabinets; the EU Military Staff and Situation Awareness Center; Europol, the pan-EU police network; Interpol; and a scattering of defense companies, nongovernmental organizations and think tanks.

Source:
"Open-Source Intel Suppliers Join in Terror Fight" in "Defense News"
by Brooks TIGNER

Action Plan & Activities

2 persons looking at a laptopEUROSINT FORUM is being set up to create a European "intelligence ecology": provoking thought on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and its use in the intelligence and security spheres by public and private organizations.

EUROSINT FORUM therefore seek to:

Stimulate the growth and integration of a European industry that so it becomes the global leader in offering methodologies and technologies in OSINT;

Ensure that the public and private sectors in Europe, are aware of OSINT methodologies and technologies;

Provide a conversation and knowledge sharing space for Institutions, Governments, Academia and Corporations to develop jointly the necessary methodologies and technologies.

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Activities

To date, the activities of the EUROSINT FORUM have included:

1.    Conferences:
-    20 September 2006: Launch event in Brussels (Supported by DG JLS); Over 60 attendees: international organisations, Commission and European agencies/Institutions, Member States agencies, corporations
-    17-18 April 2007 Annual Conference (supported by Cabinet Frattini and DG JLS); “What Does Open Source Intelligence Mean for Those Handling State Security?”. Over 100 attendees: international organisations, Commission and European agencies/Institutions, Member States agencies, private corporations.

2.    Workgroups, regrouping between 20 and 50 people each time;

  1. 15 December 2006 - Brussels: Technological Gaps WG - DG JLS’ Detection Green Paper (Supported by DG JLS)
  2. 18 January 2007 - Brussels: Best Practices WG - Establishing a European OSINT School (Supported by DG RELEX)
  3. 5 February 2007 - Vienna: Technological Gaps WG: Establishing a complete end-to-end OSINF collection process (Supported by Action against Terrorism Unit - OSCE)
  4. 3-4 July 2007: Triple pack: Violent Radicalisation workshop, Training Providers meeting, and Metadata Formats Session. The EUROSINT FORUM is organising a “triple pack” of activities in Brussels that are intended to be short, small and highly interactive meetings which are focused on delivering concrete results.
  5. 20-21 September 2007: Best Practices WG - Zürich, Switzerland (Supported by ISN). Key subjects discussed: Get the input of OSINT experts from across Europe and further afield on the draft syllabus prepared by working group members. Based on their input, reappraise the syllabus and further define areas for discussion and improvement.
  6. 19 December 2007: Brussels: OSINT Speed Dating (Supported by DG JLS). The Technological Gaps Working Group has organised a session to allow providers of technology and open source intelligence to display their products and services to potential customers and each other in a “speed dating format” (rapid overview of each, allowing later time to go back and talk in more detail).
  7. 24 January 2008 – Brussels: meeting of the “government only working group” of the EUROSINT FORUM. With the official opening of the Hungarian State Secretary, Dr. Marta Fekszi, Horvathne and  chaired by Ambassador János Budai, of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is also the initiator of the associated OSINT Budapest Club.
  8. 14 April 2008 – Brussels: Best Practises WG -  "OSINT & EU operations". How can OSINT enhance co-operation, information sharing and interoperability between different actors (Member States, EU Institutions, other organisations) involved in civil and military EU operations? (Supported by DG RELEX)
  9. 15 April 2008 – Brussels: Best Practises WG -  “Training” - To present the findings of the past year regarding best practices in open source intelligence training. To identify gaps to be filled.
  10. 23 January 2009 – Brussels: Best Practises WG - "Defining the Training Needs of Intelligence Analysts: The Process of Effective Intelligence Analysis"
  11. 20 February 2009 - Brussels: Speed Dating "New technologies in security sector"
  12. 20 March 2009 - Brussels: Expert workshop on Violent Radicalisation - Presentation of the first results of a EU-funded project, CRIME (Containing Radicalisation in Modern Europe)
  13. 30 July 2009 - Brussels: Brainstorming on FP7 CALL 3. The purpose of this brainstorming was to discuss together on potential projects that could be submitted under this call and initiate consortia
  14. 3-4 September 2009 - Vienna: Working group "Technological Gaps and Training & Best Practices". "An Interactive Journey into the Future of OSINT"
  15. 18 February 2010 - Brussels: Working Group: Best Practices in OSINT Training. Developing a "best-practice" training syllabus for intelligence analysis
  16. 31 May 2010 - Dublin - Open Source Intelligence Event
  17. 4 June 2010 - Brussels - Working group on EU technological OSINT solutions and project. 

 

(More info in "Upcoming Events" )

Plans moving forward
The general objective of the EUROSINT FORUM is to continue and extend its activities in order to promote the emergence of a European policy in Intelligence, based on the use of OSINT.