Intelligence Service of the Czech Republic: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECURITY INFORMATION SERVICE FOR 2015

1. The Nature and Scope of Intelligence Activities

The activities, the status and the scope of powers and responsibilities of the Security Information Service (BIS) as an intelligence service of a democratic state are provided for in relevant legislation, especially in Act No. 153/1994, on the Intelligence Services of the Czech Republic, as amended, and in Act No. 154/1994, on the Security Information Service, as amended. The BIS is also governed in its activities by the Constitution of the Czech Republic, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, international treaties, and other legal regulations of the Czech Republic.

Under Section 2 of Act No. 153/1994, intelligence services are state agencies for the acquisition, collection and evaluation of information (hereinafter referred to as “securing information”) important for protecting the constitutional order, major economic interests, and the security and defense of the Czech Republic. Under Section 3 of Act No. 153/1994, the BIS is an intelligence service securing information within its powers and responsibilities defined in Section 5, Paragraph 1 of Act No. 153/1994 on:

·        schemes and activities directed against the democratic foundations, the sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Czech Republic,

·        the intelligence services of foreign powers,

·        activities endangering state and official secrets,

·        activities, the consequences of which may jeopardize the security or major economic interests of the Czech Republic,

·        organized crime and terrorism.

Read the full report