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THE HAGUE, April 21, 2009 (AFP) - A Dutch intelligence service warned Tuesday of a growing threat posed by foreign espionage in the country, pointing in particular to Russia, China and Morocco.
"The Netherlands and Dutch citizens are... attractive targets for foreign intelligence services," said the annual report of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), released in The Hague.
"The threat posed by clandestine intelligence activities is big and diverse.
"The secret activities of other countries in the Netherlands affects national sovereignty and can harm national security."
Dutch membership of the European Union and NATO, as well as the country's hosting of a number of international organisations, made it a prime target for spies, said the report.
"Also the presence of large groups of migrants attracts unwanted foreign intelligence activities."
The agency's report said Russian intelligence services were active in the Netherlands with a particular interest in information about NATO, the techno-science sector, the defence industry and energy.
The Moroccan intelligence service, it said, had attempted to set up a network of informants in the Netherlands, while China was seeking to "exert influence over political decision-making" in different sectors.
Too much government and individual transparency posed real risks, said the agency, adding: "The Dutch are not sufficiently aware of the risks of espionage and foreign manipulation."
The AIVD, which focuses its intelligence gathering on non-military threats, reports to the minister of internal affairs.
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