Post date: Jul 03, 2013 6:10:53 PM
French President Francois Hollande says on the sidelines of an EU mini-summit on youth employment that talks to set up a free trade agreement between Europe and the United Statescould begin as long as efforts to clarify U.S. surveillance tactics start in parallel.
BERLIN, GERMANY (JULY 03, 2013) (POOL TV POOL) - Talks on a free trade agreement between Europe and the United States can begin as long as efforts to clarify U.S. surveillance tactics start in parallel, French President Francois Hollande said in Berlin on Wednesday (July 03).
"The French position is that we cannot start trade negotiations if we don't have at the same time and date a discussion ... with the U.S. to investigate the activities of the U.S. intelligence services," he said.Earlier on Wednesday, France had said the talks should be delayed by two weeks given tensions over reports that Washington is spying on institutions in the 28-nation bloc.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union and the United States would initiate working groups on data protection issues at the same time as the free trade talks.
Both leaders were speaking at a joint news conference after Merkel hosted a mini-summit on youth unemployment in the European Union.
"When we next meet in this round, there has to be progress," Merkel told reporters.
"This progress consists of making labour administrations more efficient where necessary, strengthening further training and qualification structures and implementing the necessary legislation in the member countries."
An estimated 5.6 million young Europeans are unable to find work