"It is true we sometimes have differences in opinions but still the United States of America is a friend, and indeed an essential partner, we cooperate very closely because this is in our mutual interest, because we need it, we cooperate because we want it and because we share this responsibility together," Merkel said.
The chancellor said that Germany celebrates 25 years of unity in 2015 and "word of thanks [to the United States] is only appropriate at this point in time."
The row over the United States spying on European targets erupted in mid-April after German media was alerted to the US national Security Agency's (NSA) continued spying in the country, on German and other EU governments, in 2015. It followed the 2013 disclosure by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed that the agency had been collecting data on European targets for years.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Socialist coalition partners regard NSA snooping on EU targets as a violation of EU and German laws.
The summit of G7 group will be held in Bavaria’s Schloss Elmau hotel, outside Munich, on June 7-8. US, Canadian, Japanese and four EU leaders will discuss global security, economy and foreign policy issues during the 41st summit of the world's leading advanced economies.
