The National Intelligence Service (NIS) (Bulgarian: Национална Разузнавателна Служба, Natsionalna Razuznavatelna Sluzhba) is a Bulgarian foreign intelligence service, established in 1990.
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The National Intelligence Service has been subordinated to the President of Bulgaria since its inception: its Director is appointed by the President on the proposal of the Council of Ministers. According to the 2009 Republic of Bulgaria Defence and Armed Forces Act, the National Intelligence provides the Minister of Defence information directly related to national security and defence, and performs its functions for protection of national security in coordination with the Minister of Defence. Although the NIS is a civilian agency, most of its personnel retain military ranks.
The National Intelligence Service (along with its internal counterpart, the National Security Service) underwent a series of merger/reform proposals, between 1992 and 2003.
History
In the wake of post-communist era the foreign/external intelligence activities, formerly carried out by the First Main Directorate of the Committee for State Security, were separated and consolidated in the National Intelligence Service. Reforms in the security sector in Bulgaria began as early as 1991; the period was characterized by the deep mistrust of the successors of the Communist-era services and by dismissal of several experienced officials on political grounds. The passage from the Party-Interior-Defence architecture to the President-Prime Minister model led to a downgrading of efficiency. The National Intelligence Service was subordinated to the President: The first years of transition were marked with mistrust between the Bulgarian and the Western Services. The transition, according to Ogni︠a︡n Shentov, has led to a vast corruption.
The Kosovo War was a milestone and a turning point for the Bulgarian foreign policy and for the intelligence community because of the great amount of practical co-operation with the major NATO countries and an unusual amount of information and intelligence sharing, although no formal contact was established. Alongside military and financial intelligence reform, a Security Council, subordinated to the Prime Minister, was created with the aim of coordinating the efforts of the whole of the intelligence community.
Cover powers
According to the 2009 Republic of Bulgaria Defence and Armed Forces Act, servicemen from the National Intelligence Service may, in the course of performing their duties, occupy for the sake of cover positions also in the state administration and in legal entities under terms and procedures determined by an act of the Council of Ministers.
Communications interception powers
According to the 1999 Law on special intelligence means, the Service has the right to request the use of special intelligence means and to use the data collected and the material pieces of evidence retained. Interception under this law can only be undertaken where there is a credible written request from the heads of these authorities or by a supervising prosecutor. In a limited number of cases, interception may be conducted by the National Intelligence Service.