Bugging devices found in EU offices

Electronic bugging devices have been found in offices used by the French and German delegations at a European Union headquarters building in Brussels.

EU spokesman Dominique-George Marro said an investigation had been launched, but that it was not immediately clear who might be behind the bugging.

The building will be the venue for an EU summit opening tomorrow.

Marro said listening devices were also found in offices used by other EU nations, but he declined to say which or how many.

“We found anomalies in the telephone lines” during regular security checks a few days ago, he said, adding that only a small number of lines were affected.

Leaders of the 15 EU nations are due to meet tomorrow and on Friday in the sprawling Justus Lipsius building, which houses the secretariat of the EU council of ministers.

The EU’s regular meetings of EU ministers are held there.

Foreign ministers from the bloc met there yesterday and EU finance ministers were to hold talks there today.

The building also houses the offices of Javier Solana, the EU’s high representative for foreign and security policy.