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EU to hold Brussels summit amid US spying row EU to hold Brussels summit amid US spying row
(about 2 hours later)
An EU summit is due to begin in Brussels with fresh allegations of US spying threatening to overshadow talks. An EU summit is due to begin in Brussels with fresh allegations of US spying threatening to overshadow talks on the economy and migration.
It comes a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel called President Barack Obama over claims that the US had monitored her mobile phone. Leaders want to try to consolidate Europe's fragile economic recovery, and speed implementation of a single market in digital services.
France's President Francois Hollande is pressing for the issue to be put on the agenda following reports that millions of French calls had been monitored. British PM David Cameron will also call on the EU to cut red tape on business.
EU leaders will also discuss Europe's economic recovery and immigration. But new allegations of US eavesdropping on Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel may also be discussed.
BBC Europe Editor Gavin Hewitt says some leaders are likely to want to use the summit to demand further clarification from Washington over the activities of its National Security Agency (NSA) in Europe. Germany has summoned the US ambassador in Berlin to explain, after claims arose in the German media that her mobile phone calls had been bugged.
The US is being called to account by its allies over allegations of spying based on material said to originate from fugitive American leaker Edward Snowden. France's President Francois Hollande is pressing for the issue to be put on the summit agenda, following reports that millions of French calls have been monitored.
Mrs Merkel says she wants US officials to clarify the extent of their surveillance in Germany. The veteran French EU Commissioner Michel Barnier told the BBC that "enough is enough", and confidence in the US had been shaken.
Her spokesman said the German leader "views such practices... as completely unacceptable".
Mrs Merkel demanded an "immediate and comprehensive explanation", said Steffen Seibert in a statement.
"Among close friends and partners, as the Federal Republic of Germany and the US have been for decades, there should be no such monitoring of the communications of a head of government," the statement added.
Veteran French EU Commissioner, Michel Barnier, told the BBC that "enough is enough", and confidence in the US had been shaken.
Mr Barnier, the commissioner for internal market and services, said Europe must not be naive but develop its own strategic digital tools, such as a "European data cloud" independent of American oversight.Mr Barnier, the commissioner for internal market and services, said Europe must not be naive but develop its own strategic digital tools, such as a "European data cloud" independent of American oversight.
The BBC's Stephen Evans in Berlin says Germany's morning papers echo a sense of outrage. The digital economy is on the official summit agenda for Thursday evening.
A front-page commentary in Thursday's Suddeutscher Zeitung - one of the country's most respected papers - refers to the "biggest affront".
It says an attack on Angela Merkel's mobile phone would be an attack on "her political heart".
The White House said President Obama had told Mrs Merkel that the US was not monitoring her calls and would not in the future.
However, it left open the question of whether calls had been listened to in the past.
State-monitoring of phone calls has a particular resonance in Germany - Mrs Merkel herself grew up in East Germany, where phone-tapping was pervasive.
In July, German media carried comments by Edward Snowden suggesting the US National Security Agency worked closely with Germany and other Western states on a "no questions asked" basis, monitoring Germans' internet traffic, emails and phone calls.
"They [the NSA] are in bed with the Germans, just like with most other Western states," Mr Snowden was quoted as saying by Der Spiegel magazine - though Mrs Merkel denied any knowledge of the collaboration.
In June, President Obama assured Chancellor Merkel that German citizens were not being routinely spied upon. At the time, she was criticised by her political opponents for not being more sceptical.
Meanwhile, a major focus of the summit will be to boost the digital economy - seen as vital for growth - while UK Prime Minister David Cameron will want red tape cut for businesses.
With markets becalmed, Spain coming out of recession and Ireland soon to exit its bailout programme, there are signs of progress for Europe's leaders to celebrate, says our correspondent.
But they recognise that the recovery is fragile and solid growth is needed.
One of the key initiatives of the European Commission is its Digital Agenda for Europe, which it says "aims to reboot Europe's economy and help Europe's citizens and businesses to get the most out of digital technologies".One of the key initiatives of the European Commission is its Digital Agenda for Europe, which it says "aims to reboot Europe's economy and help Europe's citizens and businesses to get the most out of digital technologies".
Council officials say investment in the digital economy is vital to boost growth. They want to address market fragmentation and a perceived shortage in IT skills. Council officials say investment in the digital economy is vital to boost growth, which is creeping back to the European economy. They want to address market fragmentation and a perceived shortage in IT skills.
They may also discuss telecoms reform, data protection and a cap on credit card payments.They may also discuss telecoms reform, data protection and a cap on credit card payments.
With markets becalmed, Spain coming out of recession and Ireland soon to exit its bailout programme, there are signs of progress for Europe's leaders to celebrate, says the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Brussels.
But they recognise that the recovery is fragile and solid growth is needed.
Mr Cameron is likely to use the economic discussion to raise what Britain sees as a proliferation of red tape.Mr Cameron is likely to use the economic discussion to raise what Britain sees as a proliferation of red tape.
He said last week: "All too often EU rules are a handicap for firms," and that small business owners "are forced to spend too much time complying with pointless, burdensome and costly regulations".He said last week: "All too often EU rules are a handicap for firms," and that small business owners "are forced to spend too much time complying with pointless, burdensome and costly regulations".
The European Commission - which makes the rules - has recognised that it may have gone too far in some places.The European Commission - which makes the rules - has recognised that it may have gone too far in some places.
President Jose Manuel Barroso says he wants the EU to be "big on big things and smaller on smaller things".President Jose Manuel Barroso says he wants the EU to be "big on big things and smaller on smaller things".
He says the Commission has cut more than 5,000 legal acts in the past five years and wants to do more.He says the Commission has cut more than 5,000 legal acts in the past five years and wants to do more.
On Friday the leaders will discuss relations with central European countries, ahead of a November summit at which new agreements will be signed. On Friday the leaders will discuss relations with central European countries, ahead of a November summit in Lithuania, where new agreements will be signed.
Migration will also be discussed, following the loss of hundreds of lives among migrants trying to reach Europe from Africa and the Middle East.Migration will also be discussed, following the loss of hundreds of lives among migrants trying to reach Europe from Africa and the Middle East.
The commission has called on EU countries to offer "additional and urgent contributions" to prevent further tragedies at sea. The Commission has called on EU countries to offer "additional and urgent contributions" to prevent further tragedies at sea.
It wants greater resources to survey and patrol sea routes, but also a more co-ordinated approach to dealing with migrants.It wants greater resources to survey and patrol sea routes, but also a more co-ordinated approach to dealing with migrants.
Countries on the Mediterranean coast deal with sudden and unmanageable mass arrivals, but the countries which approve most asylum requests are Germany, France and Sweden. Countries in the Mediterranean deal with sudden and unmanageable mass arrivals, but the countries which approve most asylum requests are Germany, France and Sweden.
The commission wants a more even resettlement of refugees. The Commission wants a more even resettlement of refugees.
EU sources say the leaders are likely to promise improved co-operation, but not more money or resources. They say they first want a new surveillance effort, Eurosur, to come into force, to see what effect it has. EU sources say the leaders are likely to promise improved co-operation, but not more money or resources. They say they first want a new surveillance system, Eurosur, to come into force, to see what effect it has.