20/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Five countries have apparently had their phones tapped at the Council: France and Germany but also Austria, the United Kingdom, and Spain (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.5). Italy, mentioned at one point, was finally found not to be concerned, diplomatic sources say. Greek Justice Minister Philippe Petsalnikos declared that this is a "very complex" matter and stressed that "we have to know who is hiding behind such acts". The Ministers, who spoke during a meeting of the European Parliament on Thursday, assured that this does not pose any serious problems but is not a good thing for the dignity of those who are responsible. Commissioner Vitorino continued by saying, at the same meeting, that he could guarantee that the Commission has nothing to do with phone-tapping in Council. He joked that the Commission is "very jealous" of not being "sufficiently important to be bugged".