24/10/2013 10:42
EU to hold Brussels summit amid US spying row
An EU summit is due to begin in Brussels with fresh allegations of US spying threatening to overshadow talks, the BBC reported.
It comes a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel called President Barack Obama over claims that the US had monitored her mobile phone.
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.
EU leaders will also discuss Europe's economic recovery and immigration.
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.
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.
Mrs Merkel says she wants US officials to clarify the extent of their surveillance in Germany.
Her spokesman said the German leader "views such practices... as completely unacceptable."
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.
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.
Immigration and the recent disasters involving migrants crossing the Mediterranean will also be discussed.