EU leaders meeting in Brussels said distrust of the US over spying could harm the fight against terrorism.
A statement agreed by the leaders said that “a lack of trust could prejudice” intelligence-gathering co-operation.
France and Germany are pushing for talks with the US to find a new “understanding” by the year’s end.
A number of allegations against US intelligence agents have surfaced this week, including the bugging of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone.
In addition there have been claims that the US National Security Agency (NSA) monitored millions of French telephone calls.
Meanwhile, Spain has followed Germany and France in summoning the US ambassador to explain reports of spying on the country.
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In the end, pragmatism out-pointed outrage… but that should not disguise a very real sense of betrayal in parts of Europe”
Gavin Hewitt Europe editorOn Thursday, the UK’s Guardian newspaper also reported that it had obtained a confidential memo from the NSA suggesting it had monitored the phones of 35 world leaders.
The latest revelations have been sourced to US whistleblower Edward Snowden, the former intelligence contractor who fled the country earlier this year and is now in Russia.
They have overshadowed other issues at the EU summit in Brussels, including the Mediterranean migration problem, which framed the agenda of Friday’s talks.
Italian authorities said they had intercepted some 800 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean as the EU leaders prepared to meet.
‘Vital element’
The EU leaders’ statement, released on Friday, reflected their conclusions following talks on Thursday.
It said the recent intelligence issues had raised “deep concerns” among European citizens.
The statement said the leaders “underlined the close relationship between Europe and the USA and the value of that partnership”.
David Cameron says he supports France and Germany in seeking talks with US over spying
“[The leaders] stressed that intelligence-gathering is a vital element in the fight against terrorism,” it continued.
And it went on: “A lack of trust could prejudice the necessary cooperation in the field of intelligence-gathering.”
“The heads of state or government took note of the intention of France and Germany to seek bilateral talks with the USA with the aim of finding before the end of the year an understanding on mutual relations in that field,” the leaders’ statement also said.
“They noted that other EU countries are welcome to join this initiative.”
French President Francois Hollande said the aim of the initiative “is about knowing about the past and setting a framework for the future and putting an end to monitoring mechanisms that are not controlled”.
Germany and France said they are proposing talks with the US to settle the row by the end of the year. But Mrs Merkel stressed Berlin and Paris would be making their own separate approaches to Washington.
BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt says the French and Germans are looking for a new set of rules with a “no spying pact” at the core.
‘Five Eyes’ agreement
- Initially a top-secret deal signed between the US and UK in March 1946
- It committed both nations to sharing communications intelligence, continuing the practices of WWII
- Later referred to as the “UKUSA Agreement”, it formed the basis for intelligence co-operation
- The agreement was later extended to cover Canada, Australia and New Zealand
- Other countries also reported to have joined the community
- The full text of the initial agreement was released by Britain’s National Archives in 2005
He says this would mirror an arrangement the United States has had with Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada since just after World War II. That secret intelligence-sharing operation is known as Five Eyes.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron acknowledged the UK’s “unique partnership” with the US regarding security but said: “I understand what others want to do and support that, as I think does President Obama”.
Mrs Merkel said she did not know the exact details of the Five Eyes arrangement so could not say whether that is exactly what Germany is seeking, but added: “We need something clear-cut, in line with the spirit of an alliance”.
A number of other leaders also indicated their support for the French and German position.
Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo said: “The objective must remain the same – to fight against terrorism but also respect privacy.
“Everyone can understand the need for exceptional measures given the danger of terrorism… but we are not in the position where we should spy on each other.”
Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt said it was “completely unacceptable” to eavesdrop on the leader of an ally, a view echoed by Italian PM Enrico Letta, who added: “We want the truth.”
Angela Merkel: “Once the seeds of mistrust have been sown it doesn’t facilitate our co-operation… it makes it more difficult”
Other leaders signalled the need to move on.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said: “The main thing is that we look to the future. The trans-Atlantic partnership was, and is, important.”
Mrs Merkel had raised her concerns with US President Barack Obama in a call on Wednesday.
White House spokesman Jay Carney later said Mr Obama had assured Mrs Merkel that her phone was not being listened to now and would not be in the future.
However, his statement left open the question of whether calls had been listened to in the past.
