Allegations of spying have seriously affected Germany’s relations with the USA, said Chancellor Angela Merkel in the traditional summer interview for the German broadcaster ZDF. Nevertheless, she would like to see cooperation between the intelligence agencies of the two countries continue, she said. Germany benefits from this cooperation in terms of anti-terrorism activities. However, Angela Merkel continued in the television interview, cooperation among partners cannot include spying on one another. Methods like these have no place in the 21st century, she added.

Cooperation on anti-terrorism

The two states have "fundamentally different views" of the work of intelligence agencies, said the Chancellor. She added that it is not easy to convince the Americans of the need to put the work of their intelligence agencies on a fundamentally different footing. She did, however, hope that they would alter their conduct. With the USA, she said we must explain "very calmly and very persistently" how our views differ.

At the same time she underscored the fact that she would like to see cooperation between the intelligence agencies continue. The close cooperation between German and American agencies is important to prevent terrorist threats, for instance, she said.

German-American shared values

"Trust means security, stated the Chancellor, and security is our goal. She believes, however, that times have changed since the end of the Cold War. That is why the methods that might have been appropriate in the past have no place in the 21st century.

The Chancellor expressly underlined the value of the German-American friendship that has developed since the Second World War. The United States of America have the same values as Germany and are an inspiration for Germany in many respects.

Angela Merkel rejected the idea of suspending negotiations between the EU and the USA on a free trade deal. The agreement is in the interests of Germany as an exporting nation, she said, but the German government will be working hard to ensure data privacy and cultural identity.

Taking new paths

The Chancellor expressed herself extremely satisfied with the work of the grand coalition. "We have made a good start as a government," she said. Injustices are to be rectified, not rewards distributed.

It is right to spend more on long-term nursing care and pensions for mothers. The German government is also investing in research, education and infrastructure. The Chancellor declared that in her view the government is striking the right balance.

The German government aims to balance the budget in 2015. This is an important signal for young people – it is more of an investment in the future than any German government has managed to make for more than forty years, declared the Chancellor.