John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images Germany rejects creating European intelligence agency Intelligence officials say an additional EU agency would ‘lower efficiency.’

German intelligence officials on Thursday rejected the idea of creating a European intelligence service, which has been floated by leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron.

"We don't need a European intelligence agency or any other additional European intelligence institution," said Bruno Kahl, president of Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND.

"Intelligence is better organized on the national level," Kahl told a Bundestag intelligence committee.

In a speech last month, Macron called for creating a European intelligence academy "to strengthen links between our countries.” The European home affairs commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, last month suggested a united European intelligence system to help prevent terrorist attacks.

The EU already has a law enforcement cooperation agency, Europol, but its powers are limited.

Kahl told the German parliament that there is also the European Union Intelligence and Situation Center (EU INTCEN), which provides intelligence analysis and early warnings to EU officials.

The head of Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency, Hans-Georg Maaßen, also said he was against creating an EU intelligence agency.

"I'm also against creating such an institution," Maaßen said. "If we do, we would create bureaucratic double structures, both on the European and domestic level. This duality would lower our efficiency profoundly."

Kahl and Maaßen both said they are satisfied with the current cooperation among EU member countries' intelligence agencies. They argued that the most efficient way to get information from other countries is through bilateral exchange "because it's the quickest way." Recent terror attacks in Europe boosted the pace and efficiency with which the agencies cooperate, the German intelligence leaders added.

An additional EU agency would weaken this coordination, Maaßen said.