France, Germany demand answers from US, Denmark on spying reports

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday they are asking the US and Denmark to shed light on reports that the two countries worked together to spy on senior European officials.

"This is not acceptable amongst allies," Macron said of the allegations.

His remarks came during a news conference along with Merkel following a Franco-German Council of Ministers meeting.

"I am attached to the bond of trust that unites Europeans and Americans," Macron said, adding "there is no room for suspicion" between the countries.

"That is why what we are waiting for is complete clarity," he continued. "We requested that our Danish and American partners provide all the information on these revelations and on these past facts. We are awaiting these answers."

For her part, Merkel said she agrees with her French counterpart's remarks.

She said Germany's attitude towards the clarification of events at the time "has not changed."

German news outlets reported Monday that Denmark's intelligence agency helped the US National Security Agency (NSA) spy on European leaders, including Merkel and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The revelations that Washington had been eavesdropping on its European allies first emerged in 2013, but it is only now that German journalists have gained access to inside reports about the role of the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) in providing support to the NSA.

The report indicated that Germany's northern neighbor and EU partner cooperated actively with the US on spying on German leaders.

According to the report, the then-chancellor candidate for the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), Peer Steinbruck, was also on the American spying list.