Security investigation criteria

The loyalty, trustworthiness and reliability of an individual for the purposes of being security cleared for access to information classified CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL or above shall be determined by means of a security investigation. The competent national authority shall make an overall assessment based on the findings of such a security investigation. The principal criteria used for that purpose include, to the extent possible under national laws and regulations, an examination of whether the individual: has committed or attempted to commit, conspired with or aided and abetted another to commit any act of espionage, terrorism, sabotage, treason or sedition; is, or has been, an associate of spies, terrorists, saboteurs, or of individuals reasonably suspected of being such or an associate of representatives of organisations or foreign states, including foreign intelligence services, which may threaten the security of the Union and/or Member States unless these associations were authorised in the course of official duty; is, or has been, a member of any organisation which by violent, subversive or other unlawful means seeks, inter alia, to overthrow the government of a Member State, to change the constitutional order of a Member State or to change the form or the policies of its government; is, or has been, a supporter of any organisation described in point (c), or who is, or who has been closely associated with members of such organisations; has deliberately withheld, misrepresented or falsified information of significance, particularly of a security nature, or has deliberately lied in completing a personnel security questionnaire or during the course of a security interview; has been convicted of a criminal offence or offences; has a history of alcohol dependence, use of illegal drugs and/or misuse of legal drugs; is or has been involved in conduct which may give rise to the risk of vulnerability to blackmail or pressure; by act or through speech, has demonstrated dishonesty, disloyalty, unreliability or untrustworthiness; has seriously or repeatedly infringed security regulations; or has attempted, or succeeded in, unauthorised activity in respect of communication and information systems; and may be liable to pressure (e.g. through holding one or more non-EU nationalities or through relatives or close associates who could be vulnerable to foreign intelligence services, terrorist groups or other subversive organisations, or individuals whose aims may threaten the security interests of the Union and/or Member States). Where appropriate and in accordance with national laws and regulations, an individual’s financial and medical background may also be considered relevant during the security investigation. Where appropriate and in accordance with national laws and regulations, a spouse’s, cohabitant’s or close family member’s conduct and circumstances may also be considered relevant during the security investigation.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-01 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.