Angry Over Spying, EU Leaders Call For Talks With US

05:14

October 25, 2013

The Associated Press

German Chancellor Angela Merkel presents a Blackberry tap-proof mobile phone at a booth of Secusmart during the opening round tour of the world's largest computer expo CeBIT in Hannover, in March 2013. Merkel complained to President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 after learning that U.S. intelligence may have targeted her mobile phone. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa via AP)

Senior German officials will travel to the U.S. "shortly" to talk with the White House and the National Security Agency about spying allegations, including how Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone was allegedly monitored by the NSA.

Government spokesman Georg Streiter said Friday that the heads of Germany's foreign and domestic intelligence agencies would participate in the talks. He did not give a specific date for the trip, saying it was being arranged on "relatively short notice."

At a summit Friday in Brussels, European Union leaders vowed to maintain a strong trans-Atlantic partnership despite their anger over allegations of widespread U.S. spying on allies.

But France and Germany say new surveillance rules should be agreed upon with the U.S. this year.

Guest

Chris Morris, correspondent for the BBC. He tweets @_ChrisMorris.

This segment aired on October 25, 2013.