   the national intelligence center (, cni) is the spanish official intelligence agency. its headquarters are located in the a-6 motorway near madrid. the cni is the successor of the centro superior de informaciÃ³n de la defensa, higher centre for defense intelligence. its main target areas are north africa and south america and it operates in more than 80 countries. cni's official budget for 2010 (the cni can get further resources from the reserve funds) is approximately 255 million euros. the secretary of stateâdirector of the cni is currently general fÃ©lix sanz roldÃ¡n. == goals and operation == the center's essential goal is to give the spanish government all the necessary information to prevent, and given the case, to avoid any risk or menace that affects the independence or integrity of spain, its national interests, as well as the rule of law and its institutions. in the same way, the law states that the specific goals of the cni will be determined and approved yearly by the council of ministers. these goals will be included in a secret document, the intelligence guidelines. besides this organic control of the center by the ministers council, there is also a judiciary control, given the fact certain activities require such intervention. this control is carried out by a judge of the spanish supreme court, chosen by a qualified majority. in this sense, those actions requiring previous authorization by the court are those regarding communications interdiction, entry and registration at home or enterprise addresses, or any other would-be violations of the fundamental rights granted by the spanish constitution of 1978. == precedents and history == the first spanish intelligence service was created in 1935, in a short-lived experience with an almost null activity, due t
2002_establishments_in_Spain Government_agencies_established_in_2002 Government_of_Spain National_law_enforcement_agencies_of_Spain Spanish_intelligence_agencies