Let there be no misunderstanding: tapping and wiring embassies is never a friendly act. But as we consider allegations that the US has been bugging the offices of the EU and other western allies, remember that this practice is not confined to the US. It may even take place between nations in Europe.

More worrying is the impression given by the general public and some senior officials in Berlin and Brussels that, until Edward Snowden dropped his latest revelations, they thought that the rest of the world was run by the Teletubbies. For its part, the EU appears to be amazed that it has become a political actor worth spying on, both in Brussels and wherever it has embassies.

Germany, meanwhile, possesses at least three characteristics that make it an object of desire for intelligence agencies. First, it has become a powerful nation once again, so inevitably there is keen interest worldwide in the thoughts and plans under discussion in government and corporate offices.