The European Union should gradually build a fully fledged intelligence body to better counter threats from foreign actors and respond more forcefully to espionage within its borders, according to a recent draft of a report requested by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The new intelligence service would gather its own intelligence about threats originating beyond EU borders that target the bloc as a whole, according to people familiar with the report. The aim is to avoid overlap with national agencies and help counter espionage aimed at EU institutions.