PrintThe National Security Authority (NSA) originated in the NATO treaties. Each member State committed to establish an authority responsible for the protection of NATO classified information.
Besides performing this organizational duty, in Italy the National Security Authority is also responsible for the administrative protection of State secrets and national classified information.
The powers of National Security Authority are vested in the President of the Council of Ministers, who performs them through the Ufficio centrale per la sicurezza (UCSe) [Central Secrecy Office] of the DIS.
In particular, the UCSE is responsible for:
- carrying out the activities preliminary to exercise by the President of the Council of Ministers of his functions as the National Security Authority in protection of State secrets
- preparing the measures safeguarding anything covered by secrecy classifications
- issuing and revoking security clearance [NOS - nulla osta di segretezza] for both natural and legal persons
- keeping and updating the list of all parties issued with a NOS
- negotiating and arranging security agreements with international organizations and foreign countries
The official in charge of the UCSe is appointed and dismissed by the President of the Council of Ministers, upon the proposal of the Delegated Authority, after prior consutaltion with the Director General of the DIS.