MI6 has been named Europe's top intelligence agency in a first-of-its-kind survey that asked serving and former spy chiefs to rank their continental rivals. The British service topped a field of 25 countries, finishing well ahead of France's DGSE in second place. The ranking was organised by French weekly magazine L'Express, which invited 60 intelligence professionals, including 17 heads or former heads of a secret service, to submit their own top five agencies.
The format was modelled on football's Ballon d'Or and the Eurovision Song Contest. Jurors awarded five points for first place, down to one point for fifth. L'Express said the selection criteria were 'efficiency and reliability'.