Since the US National Security Agency was found to be spying on EU government officials, much controversy has arisen. The relationship between the EU, particularly Germany, and America has quickly become tense. Many articles have theorized how the EU will react, but it is unsure of what policies will be implemented in the future to protect their citizens from international spying.
After the news, representatives from 28 countries within the European Union all signed a joint document stating that “a lack of trust could prejudice the necessary cooperation” the U.S. hopes to receive in the fight against global terrorism. The British national news paper, the Guardian, recently reported that the NSA had been monitoring the phone lines of thirty-five European leaders including the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Upon these reports, Merkel has announced that she will now peruse a new agreement with U.S. authorities which will more specific rules and limitations regarding how the NSA operates within her country. Due to the NSA’s actions and the scandal surrounding the agency the potential now exists that new Free-Trade Agreement between the EU and US could become delayed or blocked. The European Parliament’s president Martin Schulz end the talks for negoiation; however, all twenty eight members have declined to do so.
How shocked were you to hear the news? Do you think that America was the only one spying, or just the only one who got caught? There is no way to prove that other countries have been spying on each other, but with all the recent technology it isn’t that crazy of an idea.
