EU justice commissioner says reports of US spying could jeopardize trade deal

The European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship has warned that a long-awaited trade deal between the European Union and the United States could be in jeopardy following the latest disclosure that Washington spied on EU offices.

Viviane Reding said Sunday the recent talks to create what would be the world’s largest free trade area could be jeopardized if the latest revelations proved true.

The disclosure revealed on June 29 was based upon documents obtained by American whistleblower Edward Snowden, which included a “strictly confidential” National Security Agency (NSA) document, showing the spy agency monitored the EU mission in Washington.

“We can’t negotiate a large transatlantic market if there is any doubt that our partners are bugging the offices of European negotiators,” Reding stated.

Other European officials have also reacted angrily to the latest disclosures, which showed that the NSA spying operations had 38 targets, including the EU headquarters in Brussels, and the French, Italian and Greek Embassies in Washington, as well as the EU delegation at the United Nations.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has demanded an explanation from US authorities, saying that if the spying activities are confirmed, then it would be “totally unacceptable.”

German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger compared the disclosure to methods used during the Cold War, saying, “If the media reports are accurate, it is reminiscent of actions among enemies during the Cold War.”

European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he was “deeply worried and shocked” by the latest reports.

Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn responded by saying, “The United States would be better off monitoring its secret services rather than its allies. We must get a guarantee from the very highest level now that this stops immediately.”

On June 17, negotiations on EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) began during the G8 meeting, and if a deal were to be struck, it would reportedly add some 119 billion euros every year to the EU economy, and 95 billion euros to the US economy.