Strasbourg, 15/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to lift the immunity of Mrs Cresson (who said she agreed) as requested by the Belgian courts concerning the Berthelot affair. At the same time, the Commission has decided to lift the obligation to maintain secrecy for six officials (who could therefore give evidence freely in the same affair) and authorise the Belgian justice to investigate within certain of its premises (in Brussels and at the headquarters of the Joint Research Centre). Mr Berthelot himself is not covered by immunity, and the Commission therefore considers that it had nothing to decide. Regarding the "independent experts", the Commission does not raise any objection about lifting their obligation to preserve secrecy (which, however, depends mainly on the European Parliament which appointed them).