Service Général du Renseignement et de la Sécurité, Section Archives / Algemene Dienst Inlichting en Veiligheid, Sectie Archieven

The General Intelligence and Security Service (ADIV) is one of the two Belgian intelligence services. Its tasks are described in the Organic Law of November 1998 on the Belgian Intelligence Services. The ADIV is part of the Ministry of Defence and as such depends on the financial, human and material resources allocated to Defence. The Service employs both military and civilian personnel. Because its tasks and areas of competence are closely related to the military world, the ADIV is generally referred to as the military intelligence service. This distinguishes it from its civilian counterpart, State Security, with which it actively cooperates.

The General Intelligence and Security Service (ADIV) is Belgium's military intelligence and security service, headed by Vice Admiral Wim Robberecht.

Just as for the State Security Service (VSSE), the legal tasks of the ADIV are described in the Law of 30 November 1998 regulating the intelligence and security services.

To carry out its tasks, the ADIV comes under the authority of the Minister of Defence. For its strategy, the ADIV, like the VSSE, is subject to the directives of the National Security Council (NVR).

In Belgium, the intelligence and security services and thus the ADIV are monitored by the Standing Committee on Supervision of the Intelligence Services. In addition to this Standing Committee I as a supervisory body, the administrative commission (the 'Bim Commission') also exercises control over the use of specific and exceptional intelligence methods.

Compared to the VSSE, the ADIV has a number of specific capacities in the various domains of intelligence and security, for instance a large cyber capacity, an extensive geographical service, specific eavesdropping capabilities, etc. In addition, the ADIV is legally permitted to use Special Intelligence Measures (BIMs) outside the country's borders and, subject to a specific procedure, can break into computers, intercept communications and record images outside Belgium.

Based on the recommendations of the parliamentary enquiry committee, the VSSE and the ADIV are working on closer cooperation. Areas of synergy have been identified and are increasingly being exploited to increase the joint efficiency of the two services and thus continue to guarantee the security of our population, which is the most important role of these two bodies.

A National Strategic Intelligence Plan (NSIP) describes this cooperation in detail.