The scandal of the U.S. intelligence may cause an earthquake in alliance with Europe

So after the finding of the U.S. spy on communications of several European heads of state , comes the awareness on the part of the countries of the old continent to open a new phase in cooperation with the United States . If the shock is probably more for the consumption of the organs of public opinion, with which you can not admit to know the procedures and practices of the secret services , the size of which has taken the phenomenon are too great to show condescending , also because they do not come from Washington admissions public apology and because the material collected , for the exclusive preserve of one state, creates an unparalleled advantage in an alliance , coming to configure an imbalance remarkable. Beyond the fact itself , which is a clear violation of the cooperation agreements signed in a formal way , the knowledge which has come to the United States, represent an objective advantage , both on domestic and international policy developments planned by individual states , both measures of economic and financial policy , which in the current crisis , may allow Washington to anticipate strategic moves , making them ineffective. If these cases may have occurred , even wanting to find partial justification to the work USA , you do not understand how they can fit into preventive measures in favor of the U.S. security framework within which the American administration has always said to move. Despite the inability to disengage from an alliance with the United States , will shared by all European states , unanimously condemned the practices of espionage U.S. , represents a milestone and innovation in Atlantic relations . The consequences will not be irrelevant , regardless of the practical steps that will want to be taken, in fact, can not fail to result in a change of attitude determined precisely by the lower confidence behaviors induced by the U.S. , which will result in a physiological decrease of the collaboration. If on the one hand, this will speed up closer cooperation between European secret services , a mandatory condition for integration of this sector , which is crucial to develop a common defense policy , on the other hand can not fail to result in a loosening of the cooperation with the Americans, with the obvious consequence of weakening a key structure in the Western world such as NATO . The work of intelligence has become predominant , especially after the September 11 , which has caused the increase to levels never before achieved . But with this new scenario, who will be willing to fully cooperate and share information with the United States ? If this were to occur in incontrovertibly , for the Atlantic Alliance could be the beginning of the end. Certainly, this can be an opportunity for a rethinking of the functions of NATO , especially to prevent the decline . If the U.S. intends to maintain its role in the NATO military alliance , even with the new tasks of the fight against terrorism , must immediately change attitude otherwise , and not to retaliate but to wear , this experience is likely to end . The first practical consequence is , however, the negotiation of a Franco-German agreement on the cooperation of their security services involving the participation of other European countries as they desire . It is , of course, to study a structure on the basis of the EU, to leave out the United States, and that, presumably , will have its own among its tasks to make life difficult for espionage in Washington , with a role in preventing , monitoring and contrast to any conduct prejudicial to the confidentiality of the participating countries. How do you see the future of relations between Europe and the U.S. has already begun.