Brussels, 07/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The deputy chairman of the European Parliament civil liberties committee, Greek Socialist Stavros Lambrinidis, ha s asked the EU Council a series of questions on the phone tapping of prominent Greek politicians, which came to light last week. Costas Caramanlis, some of his Ministers and about forty politicians, including European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, had their phones tapped after software was installed in mobile phone operator Vodaphone's computerised system. The scandal was revealed by the Greek daily Ta Nea on 2 February, ten months after the Greek government had been informed about it. In his questions to the EU Council, Mr Lambrinidis pointed out that the Greek government had voted in favour of the Council's controversial data retention proposal (see EUROPE 9081), when it had known for several months not only of an extensive security breach in at least one Greek phone company's databases, but also of its inability to track down the perpetrators. The MEP also asked whether the Greek government's decision to keep the incident in the dark for ten months and not inform the victims of interceptions violated their fundamental rights, and if the Greek government had informed the Council or the Commission on the inadequacy of data protection systems in Greece. Legal proceedings have already been opened against a person or persons unknown for “breach of privacy” and the possibility of further proceedings for “spying” has not been ruled out. Washington has let it be known that the United States was not involved.