EU leaders vow strong ties despite US spying
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European Union leaders yesterday vowed to maintain a strong trans-Atlantic partnership despite their anger over claims of widespread US spying on its allies. France and Germany insist new surveillance rules should be agreed with the United States by the end of this year.
“What is at stake is preserving our relations with the United States,” French President Francois Hollande said yesterday, insisting that “trust has to be restored and reinforced.”
Heading into the final day of their summit in Brussels, most EU leaders shared the view that good partnership trumped deep resentment over the snooping of US security services.
On Thursday’s opening day, the spying issue united the 28 EU leaders in criticizing the snooping after allegations surfaced that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had one of her mobile phones tapped by US services.
Her government said yesterday that senior officials will travel to the US “shortly” for talks at the White House and with the National Security Agency to push forward efforts to clear up the surveillance allegations.
Merkel and Hollande insisted that beyond being fully briefed on what happened in the past, the European allies and Washington need to set up common rules for surveillance which does not impede the fundamental rights of its allies.
“The US and Europe are partners but this partnership must be built on trust and respect,” Merkel said yesterday. “That of course also includes the work of the respective intelligence services.”
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the Obama administration was discussing Germany’s concerns “through diplomatic channels at the highest level,” as it was with other US allies worried about the spying.
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