Is there something there? American intelligence services have been bugging EU offices, tapping data lines and reading many emails in Germany, perhaps even the chancellor’s emails. What a great stir. Despite this, the Europeans are meeting with the Americans to negotiate a large free trade agreement. Incomprehensible? No, inevitable. The outrage among Europe’s politicians over Uncle Sam’s spying may be big, but, in the end, revelations made by NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden will not shift the balance of power in global politics. The U.S. remains our most important strategic partner, and the planned transatlantic agreement is a project of great importance.
The review of the spying scandal must be kept separate from talks about the creation of a large economic zone, from which the Europeans would benefit just as much as the Americans. Whether the project will work or not, who knows? But the attempt should not be nipped in the bud.
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