Journalists @ Your Service (J@YS) is a help cen- tre and information hub for journalists, run by the AGJPB/AVBB (the Belgian Journalists’ Union), API/IPA (Association de la Presse Inter- nationale/International Press Association), EJC (European Journalism Centre), IFJ (International Federation of Journalists) EFJ (European Fed- eration of Journalists), Résidence Palace Inter- national Press Centre, and the local branch of the NUJ (the British and Irish Journalists’ Union).

This guide was produced by J@YS (Journalists @ Your Service) Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 22 52 www.brusselsreporter.eu [email protected] Introduction...... 4 EU institutions under the Lisbon Treaty...... 6 European Commission...... 7 Spokespersons’ Service of the European Commission...... 10 Audiovisual Service-European Commission...... 25 Head and Press Officers of Representations in EU Countries ...... 26 European Parliament...... 34 EP President’s Press Office...... 36 EP Press Service...... 36 EP Political Groups Press Service...... 37 Plenary Press Officers...... 39 EP Committees Press Officers by Policy Area...... 42 EP Press publications...... 45 EP Information Offices in EU Countries...... 46 Council of the European Union...... 50 Rotating Presidencies...... 51 European Council...... 52 Council Press Office...... 53 Press Officers at Permanent Representations...... 57 European External Action Service (EEAS)...... 62 Other EU institutions...... 63 EU agencies...... 68 International organisations...... 72 Lobby groups - NGOs...... 74 Think tanks...... 78 Information sources...... 80 Web-based information sources ...... 81 European wide news channels...... 82 Accreditation...... 83 Tax guide...... 89 EU jargon buster ...... 94 Media organisations in Brussels ...... 96

Reporting Brussels P.3 Introduction Brussels: capital of Belgium, European Union focal point and a global media centre

Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium, it is also the strategic hub of the EU institutions and concomitantly an international media centre. Around one thousand accredited journalists and audiovisual media live and work here to cover European affairs, NATO and events in Belgium, the Netherlands and other European countries. Many more journalists from all over the world visit Brussels for brief periods for EU related events or to report on the activities of the international institutions based here.

For the last ten years, experienced reporters staffing Journalists @ Your Service (J@YS) have offered guidance to media professionals working in Brussels or passing through. This friendly helpdesk, launched in 2001 with the creation of the International Press Centre in the Residence Palace, comprises most journalist organisations based in Belgium. It operates during normal office hours in the heart of the European quarter, where a full-time coordinator is available to answer journalists’ questions on subjects as varied as accreditation with the EU institutions or helping to find suitable contacts for their reportages.

In its ten years of activity, J@YS has organised, together with its members, conferences and roundtable discussions on topics relevant to the media and briefings to help new arrivals to Brussels learn some of the essentials of living and working in the city. In collaboration with the European Journalism Centre (EJC), J@YS also arranges seminars for journalists whether established here or newcomers to Brussels, as well as those visiting to learn more about the ‘European Project’. Regular exchanges take place between European journalists and their counterparts as far away as Japan and Korea.

P.4 Reporting Brussels Now in its sixth edition, this vest-pocket guide contains a wealth of infor- mation and contacts, plus brief descriptions of the main EU institutions, EU agencies and some of the most relevant NGOs, international and Belgian organisations, media and lobby groups.

For further information on the activities of J@YS and more details on “what’s on” for journalists, jobs offers, prizes and exchanges for the media, please check out its newly revamped website: www.brusselsreporter.eu. The whole of this booklet will be also available on the J@YS website.

As a member of the API/IPA council and as a veteran journalist working here, I am confident this media guide will be an invaluable working tool for all.

Maria Laura Franciosi President Journalists @ Your Service (J@YS) Brussels, June 2011

Reporting Brussels P.5 Institutions under the Lisbon Treaty

The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1st December 2009, has modified the EU’s structure. It increased the number of areas where the European Parliament shares decision-making with the Council of the European Union (Member States). It also increased the role of national parliaments by giving them more opportunities to provide a direct input into EU decision- making. This is because of a new early-warning system that allows them to comment on draft laws and to check that the so-called subsidiarity principle is adhered to and that the EU does not legislate on matters that would be better dealt with nationally or locally.

The impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the Council of the European Union has led to more extensive use of ‘qualified majority voting’ in areas where unanimity was previously required. From 2014, decisions in the Council will require the support of 55% of the Member States, representing at least 65% of the European population. To move new policy areas from unanimity to majority voting, every Member State will have to agree and national parliaments will have a right of veto.

The role of the European Commission has also been modified by the Lisbon Treaty. The separation of powers among the three main EU institutions has become less rigorous. The Council of the European Union now has a High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, the former British EU Commissioner for Trade, Catherine Ashton. She is also Vice President of the European Commission in charge of the foreign policy portfolio of the European Executive and heads a 3,000-strong EU diplomatic service.

Under the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council, which is made up of heads of state and governments of the 27 Member States, has elected as its president, for a maximum of two and a half year terms, the former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy who started his new job on January 1st 2010. For further information on the new Lisbon Treaty, see also http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/others/84/en.pdf

P.6 Reporting Brussels European Commission

Rue de la Loi 200 B-1049 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 299 11 11 www.europa.eu

The European Council’s appointment of the President of the Commission was ratified by the European Parliament. The Parliament re-confirmed José Manuel Barroso as President of the Commission, and he chose a college of 26 Commissioners, based on proposals from EU Member States. The new executive was officially approved by the Parliament on 9th February 2010.

The Commission – the EU institution that proposes new legislation – oversees the Union’s budget of more than €120 billion a year and makes sure that laws are implemented and competition rules applied. It is usually the first port of call for journalists wanting to find out what is happening in the EU.

The Commission runs a long-established spokespersons service with a midday briefing every working day in the press room of the Berlaymont building (the Commission’s headquarters, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels) for members of the Brussels media corps and other press temporarily in the city. It is responsible for running the Europa web server (www.europa.eu). On a regular basis, European Commissioners attend to explain their latest legislative initiatives or decisions to the media and to answer journalists’ questions. In general, the daily briefing lasts between half an hour and one hour, with a short introduction to the day’s offerings from the chief spokesperson and the other spokespeople, followed at times by a series of more technical briefings on specific pieces of legislation.

Paper copies of press releases and background material can be found outside the press room. The same material will be available on the Europa website after the midday briefing. News agencies are eager to get the press releases

Reporting Brussels P.7 as soon as they come out, so as to be the first to announce the news.

The press area includes a bar and a workroom for both visiting and resident journalists. It offers phones (local calls are free), workstations and free Wi-Fi internet access. A few PCs are available for visiting journalists.

Commission press conferences are held in French and English during the working week and in most of the 23 official EU languages on Wednesdays – the day the 27 Commissioners meet – or on other special occasions such as press conferences by Commissioners. Spokespersons usually reply in the language of the question asked (French or English during the midday briefing). Most questions in the press room are asked in English, but the use of national languages is possible when wider interpretation is available. A high percentage of Commission papers are now drafted in English, but French and German translations are, in theory if not always in practice, immediately available.

Accredited journalists to the EU institutions can attend Commission briefings by showing their press pass. Non-accredited or visiting journalists holding a national press card can access the press room by reporting to the Berlaymont reception desk and showing their ID and press card. A day pass will be issued. If in doubt, before arriving at the Commission headquarters, e-mail (press- [email protected]), or fax or telephone the press room team.

P.8 Reporting Brussels Press Room + Accreditation Silvana RIVA Press room BERL-1/PRE6 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 00 86 M: +32 (0)498 950 086 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 47 70 [email protected] Pier SOLDATI Press Accreditation BERL-1/PRE6 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 01 70 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 47 70 [email protected]

Journalists based outside Brussels (or too busy or too lazy to leave their office!) can follow the daily briefing in two ways: 1. Europe by Satellite www.ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm EbS offers live streaming of the daily briefing for journalists with high-speed internet access and Real Player streaming software. It also covers sessions of the European Parliament and some Council of the European Union press conferences. TV companies can obtain live feeds and stock shots of events from EbS. 2. The web www.europa.eu/press_room/index_en.htm Press releases and background material are posted on the Commission’s ‘virtual press room’ less than an hour after they are distributed. Rapid, the press release search engine covering all EU institutions is also available via this site.

Note: When a spokesperson decides to go ‘off the record’ by pressing a red button in the press room, coverage of the briefing is suspended for TV and web-watchers. There may also be other ways of going off the record, which are explained to the press as the occasion arises.

The Commission’s press service is headed by Koen Doens. The chief spokesperson is Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen. She is supported by a team whose members are each responsible for a specific policy area – health, employment, economic and monetary policy, trade, competition policy, transport, and so on. In the current Commission, the areas have been divided into three main groups:

Reporting Brussels P.9 • Economic & Financial Policies and Knowledge Society • Citizens’ Interest, Climate Action, and Structural Policies • External Relations, Budget, Fiscal Policy and Administration The spokespeople are the only Commission officials – apart from Commis- sioners and Director-Generals of services – allowed to speak to the press ‘on the record’ for the institution. Civil servants working in the Commission’s directorates are not supposed to speak to the press. However, once a journalist has established a working relationship with an official, the information he or she may provide can usually be used on a background and off-the-record basis.

Tip: Commission spokespersons are busy people but on the whole they try to respond to your calls. If a spokesperson does not get back quickly and you have a deadline approaching, do not be afraid to contact their secretary or press officer again.

SPOKESPERSONS’ SERVICE of the European Commission

E-mail addresses are formed as follows: [email protected] Telephone number for weekends and outside working hours: +32 (0)2 295 84 63

Koen DOENS Head of the Spokespersons’ Service BERL 3/339 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 15 66 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 79 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 981 566 [email protected] Pia AHRENKILDE HANSEN Spokesperson of the Commission BERL-3/347 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 30 70 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 953 070 [email protected] Leonor RIBEIRO DA SILVA Deputy Spokesperson, Activities of the President BERL 3/353 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 81 55 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 981 669 [email protected]

P.10 Reporting Brussels

Krisztina NAGY Assistant to the Head of Service BERL 3/334 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 49 33 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 79 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 964 933 [email protected] Mark GRAY Spokesperson, Advisor to the Head of Service BERL 3/319 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 86 44 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 988 644 [email protected]

Office of Koen Doens Isabelle MORDELLE Secretary to the Head of Service BERL 3/336 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 66 19 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 79 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 956 619 [email protected] Tuuli HUTTUNEN Secretary to the Head of Service BERL 3/336 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 04 27 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 79 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 956 619 [email protected]

OfFice of Pia AHRENKILDE HANSEN - Midday coordination Delphine RIO Secretary BERL 3/350 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 36 75 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 995 741 [email protected]

Office of Leonor RIBEIRO DA SILVA Kristyna HAMRIKOVA Secretary BERL 3/350 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 69 80 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 986 980 [email protected]

PLANNING AND COORDINATION SECTOR Michael KARNITSCHNIG Spokesperson BERL 3/320 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 60 66 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 996 066 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.11

Cezary LEWANOWICZ Spokesperson BERL 3/328 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 30 50 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 501 [email protected] Jens MESTER Spokesperson BERL 3/332 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 39 73 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 963 973 [email protected] Simon O’CONNOR Spokesperson BERL 3/286 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 73 59 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 967 359 [email protected] Lea ISKRA Press Officer BERL 3/326 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 76 80 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 42 84 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 440 [email protected] Margarita NIKOLOVA Press Officer BERL 3/323 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 82 42 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 79 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 432 [email protected] Maya ANGELOVA Secretary BERL 3/323 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 27 63 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 79 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 962 763 [email protected] Jenni KINNUNEN Secretary Berl 3/326 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 87 75 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 79 12 Mobile: 32 (0)460 758 775 [email protected] Silvana RIVA Press Room BERL 1/PRE6 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 00 86 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 47 70 Mobile: +32 (0)498 950 086 [email protected] Pier SOLDATI Press Accreditation BERL 1/PRE6 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 01 70 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 47 70 [email protected]

P.12 Reporting Brussels Unit 1 – Growth and Jobs Olivier BAILLY Head of Unit/Coordinating Spokesperson BERL 2/298 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 87 17 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 968 717 [email protected] Franck ARRII Secretary (acting) BERL 4/321 Tel:+32 (0)2 297 22 21 [email protected] Patricia BOROT Secretary for the Unit 1 BERL 3/288 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 85 44 [email protected]

COMPETITION (Vice-President Joaquín ALMUNIA) Amelia TORRES Spokesperson BERL 4/313 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 46 29 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 14 13 Mobile: +32 (0)498 980 161 [email protected] Marisa GONZÁLEZ IGLESIAS Press Officer BERL 3/292 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 19 25 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 14 13 Mobile: +32 (0)498 951925 [email protected] María MADRID Press Officer BERL 4/316 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 45 30 Mobile: +32 (0)498 954 530 [email protected] Olga LESZCZYNSKA-VARGIN Secretary BERL 4/310 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 55 20 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.13 ECONOMIC and MONETARY AFFAIRS (Commissioner Olli REHN) Amadeu ALTAFAJ TARDIO Spokesperson BERL 4/307 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 26 58 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 14 13 Mobile: +32 (0)498 952 658 [email protected] Pia SEPPÄLÄ Press Officer BERL 4/305 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 24 88 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 14 13 Mobile: +32 (0)498 992 488 [email protected] Catherine BUNYAN Press Officer to Amadeu ALTAFAJ TARDIO and Chantal HUGHES BERL 4/301 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 65 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 996 512 [email protected] Samantha BUTTERWORTH Secretary BERL 3/301 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 55 22 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 14 13 [email protected]

INDUSTRY and ENTREPRENEURSHIP (Vice-President Antonio TAJANI) Carlo CORAZZA Spokesperson BERL 4/325 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 17 52 Mobile: +32 (0)498 992 862 [email protected] Andrea MARESI Press Officer BERL 4/328 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 04 03 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 990 403 [email protected]

INTERNAL MARKET and SERVICES (Commissioner Michel BARNIER) Chantal HUGHES Spokesperson BERL 4/302 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 44 50 Mobile: +32 (0)498 964 450 [email protected]

P.14 Reporting Brussels

Carmel DUNNE Press Officer BERL 4/301 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 88 94 Mobile: +32 (0)498 998 894 [email protected] Catherine BUNYAN Press Officer to Amadeu ALTAFAJ TARDIO and Chantal HUGHES BERL 4/301 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 65 12 Mobile: +32 (0)498 996 512 [email protected] Nathalie MINSART Secretary BERL 3/288 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 43 35 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 [email protected]

RESEARCH, INNOVATION & SCIENCE (Commissioner Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN) Mark ENGLISH Spokesperson BERL 4/330 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 24 10 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 38 Mobile: +32 (0)498 962 410 [email protected] Monika WCISLO Press Officer BERL 4/333 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 56 04 Mobile: +32 (0)498 986 595 [email protected] Carine JEUKENNE Secretary BERL 4/328 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 78 73 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 [email protected]

EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND INCLUSION (Commissioner László ANDOR) Cristina ARIGHO Spokesperson BERL 3/308 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 53 99 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 Mobile: +32 (0)498 982 118 [email protected] Maria JAVOROVA Press Officer BERL 3/305 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 89 03 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 Mobile: +32 (0)498 986 057 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.15 TAXATION and CUSTOMS UNION, AUDIT and ANTI-FRAUD (Commissioner Algirdas ŠEMETA) Emer TRAYNOR Spokesperson BERL 3/291 Tel: +32 (0)2 292 15 48 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 Mobile: +32 (0)498 983 871 [email protected] David BOUBLIL Spokesperson (acting) BERL 3/291 Tel : +32 (0)2 296 55 73 Fax : +32 (0)2 299 19 70 Mobile : +32 (0)498 965 573 [email protected] Maud SCELO Press Officer BERL 3/288 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 15 21 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 495 [email protected] Denise CLAREMBAUX Secretary to Cristina ARIGHO and David BOUBLIL BERL 3/305 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 05 39 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 [email protected]

DIGITAL AGENDA (Vice-President Neelie KROES) Jonathan TODD Spokesperson BERL 3/310 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 41 07 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 38 Mobile: +32 (0)498 994 107 [email protected] Linda CAIN Press Officer BERL 3/315 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 90 19 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 38 Mobile: +32 (0)498 999 019 [email protected]

EDUCATION, CULTURE, MULTILINGUALISM AND YOUTH (Commissioner Androulla VASSILIOU) Dennis ABBOTT Spokesperson BERL 3/316 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 92 58 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 38 Mobile: +32 (0)498 959 258 [email protected]

P.16 Reporting Brussels

Dina AVRAAM Press Officer BERL 3/315 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 96 67 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 38 Mobile: +32 (0)498 959 667 [email protected] Justyna MILANOWSKA Secretary to Jonathan TODD and Dennis ABBOTT BERL 3/315 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 42 46 Fax: +32 (0)2 298 41 72 [email protected]

Unit 2 – Citizens and Budget Karolina KOTTOVA Head of Unit/Coordinating Spokesperson BERL 1/320 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 70 19 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 412 [email protected] Inmaculada MARTÍNEZ GARCÍA Secretary (acting) BERL 1/322 Tel: +32 (0)2 297 44 13 [email protected] Ilse GORDTS Secretary BERL 3/286 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 49 97 [email protected]

JUSTICE, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND CITIZENSHIP (Vice-President Viviane REDING) Matthew NEWMAN Spokesperson BERL 1/333 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 24 06 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 962 406 [email protected] Mina ANDREEVA Press Officer BERL 1/324 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 13 82 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 991 382 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.17 Home Affairs (Commissioner Cecilia MALMSTRÖM) Michele CERCONE Spokesperson BERL 1/328 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 09 63 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 982 349 [email protected] Marcin GRABIEC Spokesperson (acting) BERL 1/328 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 10 45 Mobile: +32 (0)498 98 408 [email protected] Tove ERNST Press Officer BERL 1/324 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 67 64 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 483 [email protected] Natasha BERTAUD Secretary to Marcin GRABIEC and Matthew NEWMAN BERL 1/330 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 74 56 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 [email protected]

AGRICULTURAL & RURAL DEVELOPMENT (Commissioner Dacian CIOLOŞ) Roger WAITE Spokesperson BERL 1/343 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 14 04 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 961 404 [email protected] Johan REYNIERS Press Officer BERL 1/341 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 67 28 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 956 728 [email protected]

MARITIME AFFAIRS & FISHERIES (Commissioner Maria DAMANAKI) Oliver DREWES Spokesperson BERL 1/336 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 24 21 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 980 081 [email protected] Lone MIKKELSEN Press Officer BERL 1/337 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 05 67 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 960 567 [email protected]

P.18 Reporting Brussels

Stéphanie LIARD Secretary to Agriculture and Fisheries BERL 1/337 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 46 95 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 [email protected]

HEALTH & CONSUMER POLICY (Commissioner John DALLI) Frédéric VINCENT Spokesperson BERL 2/347 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 71 66 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 987166 [email protected] Aikaterini APOSTOLA Secretary BERL 2/344 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 76 24 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)2 498 987 624 [email protected]

REGIONAL POLICY (Commissioner Johannes HAHN) Ton van LIEROP Spokesperson BERL 4/338 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 65 65 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 38 Mobile: +32 (0)498 966 565 [email protected] Marie-Pierre JOUGLAIN Press Officer BERL 4/333 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 44 49 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 38 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 449 [email protected] Christina WELLS Secretary to Ton VAN LIEROP BERL 4/333 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 57 25 [email protected]

INTER-INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS and ADMINISTRATION (Vice-President Maros ŞEFČOVIČ) Antonio GRAVILI Spokesperson BERL 3/292 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 43 17 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 954 317 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.19

Helle MORTENSEN Assistant to Antonio GRAVILI BERL 3/295 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 32 12 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 [email protected] Marilyn CARRUTHERS Press Officer BERL 3/295 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 94 51 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 999 451 [email protected]

FINANCIAL PROGRAMMING & BUDGET (Commissioner Janusz LEWANDOWSKI) Patrizio FIORILLI Spokesperson BERL 3/298 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 81 32 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 95 81 32 [email protected] Monika SIKORSKA Press Officer BERL 3/301 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 23 92 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 952 392 [email protected]

Unit 3 – Global and Sustainable Europe Alejandro ULZURRUN de ASANZA y MUÑOZ Head of Unit/Coordinating Spokesperson BERL 2/316 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 48 67 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 954 867 [email protected] Françoise d’ENNETIERES Secretary BERL 2/314 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 40 87 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 [email protected]

FOREIGN AFFAIRS & SECURITY POLICY (Vice-President/High Representative Catherine ASHTON) Michael MANN EEAS Spokesperson BERL 2/328 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 97 80 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 Mobile: +32 (0)498 999 780 [email protected]

P.20 Reporting Brussels

Maja KOCIJANCIC Deputy Spokesperson BERL 2/320 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 65 70 Fax: +32 (0) 295 19 15 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 425 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected] Darren ENNIS Press Officer BERL 2/319 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 32 93 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 Mobile: +32 (0)498 963 293 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected] Iulia COSTEA Secretary BERL 2/325 Tel: +32 (0)2 297 68 55 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected] Delphine LIEVREMONT Secretary BERL 2/325 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 17 46 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected]

TRADE (Commissioner Karel DE GUCHT) John CLANCY Spokesperson BERL 2/335 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 37 73 Fax: +32 (0)2 298 41 72 Mobile: +32 (0)498 953 773 [email protected] Helene BANNER Press Officer (acting) BERL 2/333 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 24 07 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 41 72 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.21 ENLARGEMENT and EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY (Commissioner Štefan FÜLE) Natasha BUTLER Spokesperson BERL 2/310 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 19 68 Fax: +32 (0)2 298 41 72 Mobile: +32 (0)498 951 968 [email protected] Anca PADURARU Press Officer BERL 2/309 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 64 30 Fax: +32 (0)2 298 41 72 Mobile: +32 (0)498 966 430 [email protected] Antony HERRMANN Secretary to John CLANCY and Natasha BUTLER (acting) BERL 2/309 Tel: +32 (0)2 297 57 77 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 [email protected]

DEVELOPMENT (Commissioner Andris PIEBALGS) Catherine RAY Spokesperson BERL 2/305 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 99 21 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 Mobile: +32 (0)498 969 921 [email protected] Wojtek TALKO Press Officer BERL 2/302 Tel: +32 (0)2 297 85 51 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 Mobile: +32 (0)498 978 551 [email protected]

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, HUMANITARIAN AID & CRISIS RESPONSE (Commissioner Kristalina GEORGIEVA) Raphaël BRIGANDI Spokesperson (acting) BERL 2/300 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 08 47 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 984 660 [email protected] Irina NOVAKOVA Press Officer BERL 2/297 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 57 51 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 957 517 [email protected]

P.22 Reporting Brussels

Marianna KOURIDAKI Secretary Catherine RAY and Raphaël BRIGANDI BERL 2/302 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 10 35 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 19 70 [email protected]

ENVIRONMENT (Commissioner Janez POTOČNIK) Joe HENNON Spokesperson BERL 1/355 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 35 93 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 953 593 [email protected] Monica WESTEREN Press Officer BERL 1/352 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 18 30 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 982 892 [email protected]

CLIMATE ACTION (Commissioner Connie HEDEGAARD) Isaac VALERO LADRON Spokesperson BERL 1/349 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 49 71 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 Mobile: +32 (0)498 964 971 [email protected] Kata DÒZSA Press Officer (acting) BERL 1/346 Tel: +32 (0)2 297 26 86 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 963 694 [email protected] Lorella CORATO Secretary to Joe HENNON and to Isaac VALERO LADRON BERL 1/352 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 30 99 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 30 67 [email protected]

ENERGY (Commissioner Günther OETTINGER) Marlene HOLZNER Spokesperson BERL 2/353 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 01 96 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 41 43 Mobile: +32 (0)498 982 280 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.23

Nicole BOCKSTALLER Press Officer BERL 2/350 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 25 89 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 01 43 Mobile: +32 (0)498 952 589 [email protected] Katerina RYBAROVA Secretary to Marlene HOLZNER BERL 2/350 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 04 25 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 01 43 [email protected]

TRANSPORT (Vice-President Siim KALLAS) Helen KEARNS Spokesperson BERL 2/342 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 76 38 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 987 638 [email protected] Dale KIDD Press Officer BERL 2/338 Tel: +32 (0)2 295 74 61 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25 Mobile: +32 (0)498 957461 [email protected] Dominique SAINT JAMES Secretary to Helen KEARNS (acting) BERL 2/338 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 22 84 Fax: +32 (0)2 296 06 25

P.24 Reporting Brussels DG COMMUNICATION Audiovisual Service- European Commission

Fabrizia DE ROSA - Head of Unit Berlaymont 4 /363 Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 299 37 39, Fax: +32 (0)2 299 93 01 [email protected]

Europe by Satellite (EbS) Berlaymont 1/ME23, B-1049 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 296 41 06, Fax: +32 (0)2 298 70 23 www.ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/welcome_en.cfm

• Fred D’HONDT, Michael DEGREZ, Michael MARTORELL-VIZCARRO EbS News Desk - Tel: +32 (0)2 296 41 06, Fax: +32 (0)2 230 12 80 • Simona PILKO – Head of Sector and EbS Chief Editor Tel: +32 (0)2 296 82 94, Fax: +32 (0)2 299 93 01

The Commission runs a virtual media library stocked with audio, video and photo clips: www.ec.europa.eu/avservices/home/index_en.cfm Those wishing to use the site need only register once.

To obtain material, contact: • Photos: Karima BOULIF, Domenica CARUSO, Jeanne TCHEDRY, Alex THIRY Tel: +32 (0)2 295 95 97, Fax: +32 (0)2 299 90 12 • Videos: Aylin CELEBI, Catherine GERARD, Sarah MARECHAL, Michael MARTORELL-VIZCARRO, Sandra NSAMBI NZALI, Juan RASO, Isabelle SURAY Tel: +32 (0)2 298 63 72, Fax: +32 (0)2 299 90 12

Permanent accreditation Pier Soldati Berl 1/Pre6 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 01 70 Fax: +32 (0)2 299 47 70 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.25 The accreditation office is open: Monday to Thursday: 9.00-13.00 and 14.30-17.00 Fridays - 9.00-13.00 and 14.30-16.00. It is closed during the first two weeks of August.

Tip: Remember that each directorate-general (DG) has its own website, information service and newsletter. So if, for example, you are looking for female employment rates in Greece, you should first visit the Commission’s employment and social affairs website, then check with the statistical office Eurostat (ec.europa.eu/dgs/employment_social/index_en.htm).

Upcoming events, newsletters and contact details of Commission staff can all be found on DG websites. Note, however, that information officers in the DGs are primarily concerned with producing brochures for the general public, rather than answering press enquiries. However, they might be a good contact if you want more detailed information on particular issues.

The Commission has spokespeople in its national representations in the 27 member states. They can provide an additional perspective on the impact of decisions taken in Brussels on individual countries.

Heads and Press Officers of the Representations in EU Countries

• Austria, Vienna Richard KUEHNEL (Head), Annemarie HUBER (Press Officer) Vertretung der Europäischen Kommission Haus der Europäischen Union, Willplinger Strasse 35 A-1010 Wien, Österreich Tel: +43 1 516 180, Fax: +43 1 513 4225 www.ec.europa.eu/austria • [email protected]

P.26 Reporting Brussels • Belgium, Brussels Willy HELIN (Head), Christian DE BRUYNE (Deputy Head)) Représentation de la Commission Européenne en Belgique/ Vertegenwoordiging van de Europese Commissie in België Rue Archimède 73/Archimedesstraat 73 B-1000 Bruxelles/Brussel, Belgique/België Tel: +32 (0)2 295 38 44, Fax: +32 (0)2 295 01 66 www.ec.europa.eu/belgium • [email protected] • Bulgaria, Sofia Zinaida ZLATANOVA (Head), Elitsa ZLATEVA (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, 9 Moskovska St., 1000 Sofia, Postal Address – P.O. Box 668 BG-1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel: +359 2 933 5252, Fax: +359 2 933 5233 http://ec.europa.eu/bulgaria • [email protected] • Cyprus, Nicosia Androulla KAMINARA (Head), Kezban AKANSOY (Press Officer Turkish language), Georgios ELIOPOULOS (Press Officer Greek language) Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus, 30 Byron Avenue, 1096 Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: +357 2281 7770, Fax: +357 2276 8926 http://ec.europa.eu/cyprus/ • [email protected] • Czech Republic, Prague Irena MOOZOVA (Head), Martin STASEK (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, Jungmannova 24, P.O. Box 811 CZ-111 21 Praha 1, Czech Republic Tel: +420 2 24 31 28 35, Fax: +420 2 24 31 28 50 www.ec.europa.eu/ceskarepublika/index_cs.htm [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.27 • Denmark, Copenhagen Jan SCHMIDT (Head), Michael VEDSØ (Press Officer) Europa-Kommissionens Repræsentation i Danmark, Gothersgade 115, DK-1123 København K, Danmark, Tel: +45 33 14 41 40, Fax: +45 33 11 12 03 www.europa-kommissionen.dk/eu-politik/aktuelt [email protected] • [email protected] • Estonia, Tallinn Toivo KLAAR (Head), Pille VAHER (Press Officer) Euroopa Komisjoni Esindus Eestis, Rävala 4, 10145 Tallinn, Eesti Tel: +372 62 644 00 www.ec.europa.eu/eesti/index_et.htm • [email protected] • Finland, Helsinki Eikka KOSONEN (Head), Marjatta HAUTALA (Press Officer) Euroopan komission Suomen edustusto/Europeiska kommissionens representation i Finland, Pohjoisesplanadi 31/Norra esplanaden 31, FI-00100 Helsinki/Helsingfors, Suomi/Finland, Tel: +358 9 6226 544 http://ec.europa.eu/finland • [email protected] • France, Paris Anna ZALEWSKA-URBANCZYK, (Acting Head) Cheida KECHAVARZI (Press officer) 288, Boulevard Saint-Germain F-75007 Paris, France Tel: +33 1 40 63 38 00, Fax: +33 1 45 56 94 www.ec.europa.eu/france/index_fr.htm • [email protected] • Germany, Berlin Matthias PETSCHKE (Head), Carsten LIETZ (Press Officer) Vertretung der Europäischen Kommission in Deutschland Unter den Linden 78, D-10117 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2280 2000 www.ec.europa.eu/deutschland/index_de.htm [email protected]

P.28 Reporting Brussels • Germany, Bonn Stephan KOPPELBERG (Regional Head), Kerstin STREICH (Press Officer) Vertretung der Europäischen Kommission in Bonn Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz 2-4, D-53111 Bonn, Germany Tel: +49 228 530 090 www.ec.europa.eu/deutschland/index_de.htm [email protected] • Germany, Munich Henning ARP (Regional Head), Peter MARTIN (Press Officer) Vertretung der Europäischen Kommission in München Erhardtstraße 27, D-80469 München, Deutschland Tel: +49 89 2424 480 www.ec.europa.eu/deutschland/index_de.htm [email protected] • Greece, Athens Ierotheos PAPADOPOULOS (Acting Head) Carlos MARTIN RUIZ DE GORDEJUELA (Press Officer) Evropaiki Epitropi-Antiprosopeia stin Ellada, 2, Vassilissis Sofias GR-10674 Athina, Ellas - Tel: +30 210 7272 100 www.ec.europa.eu/ellada/index_el.htm • [email protected] • Hungary, Budapest Tamás SZÜCS (Head), Adrienn GEGES (Press officer) Representation of the European Commission in Hungary Deak Ferenc utca 15, 1052 Budapest, Hungary Tel: +36 1 209 9700, Fax: +36 1 466 4221 www.eu.hu • [email protected] • Ireland, Dublin Barbara NOLAN (Head), Ruth DEASY (Press Officer) European Commission Representation in Ireland European Union House 18 Dawson, Street Dublin 2, Ireland Tel: +353 1 634 1111, Fax: +353 1 634 1112 www.ec.europa.eu/ireland/press_office/index_en.htm [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.29 • Italy, Rome Lucio BATTISTOTTI (Head), Emilio DAL MONTE (Acting Press Officer) Rappresentanza in Italia della Commissione Europea Via IV Novembre 149, I-00187 Roma, Italy Tel: +39 06 699 991, Fax: +39 06 679 1658 / 36 52 www.ec.europa.eu/italia • [email protected] • Italy, Milan Matteo FORNARA (Regional Head) Rappresentanza a Milano della Commissione Europea, Corso Magenta, 59, I-20123 Milano, Italia - Tel: +39 02 4675 141 www.ec.europa.eu/italia • [email protected] • Latvia, Riga Iveta SULCA (Head), Ivars BUSMANIS (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Latvia, Aspazijas street 28, LV-1050 Riga, Latvia - Tel: +371 6708 5400 www.eiropainfo.lv • [email protected] • Lithuania, Vilnius Laimute PILUKAITE (Head), Giedrius SUDIKAS (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Lithuania Naugarduko St. 10, LT-01141 Vilnius, Lithuania Tel: +370 5231 3191 - Fax: +370 5231 3192 http://ec.europa.eu/lietuva • [email protected] • Luxembourg Ernst MOUTSCHEN (Head and Press Officer) Représentation de la Commission Européenne au Luxembourg Maison de l’Europe 7, Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes L-2920 Luxembourg Tel: +352 4301 32 925 www.ec.europa.eu/luxembourg • [email protected] • Malta, Valletta Martin BUGELLI (Head), Angelo CHETCUTI (Press officer) Kummissjoni Ewropea – Rapprezentanza F’Malta, Dar I-Ewropa, 254 St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1215, Malta - Tel: +356 23 42 50 00 www.delmlt.cec-eu-int.com • [email protected]

P.30 Reporting Brussels • Netherlands, The Hague Jimmy JAMAR (Head) Europese Commissie Vertegenwoordiging in Nederland, Mauritskade 35, 2514 HD Den Haag, Nederland Tel: +31 70 313 53 00, Fax: +31 70 364 66 19 www.eu.nl [email protected] • Poland, Warsaw Marie-Therese DUFFY-HAEUSLER (Acting Head) Zbigniew GNIATKOWSKI (Press Officer) Reprezentacja Komisji Europejskiej w Polsce, Ul. Jasna 14/16a, 00-041 Warszawa, Polska - Tel: +48 22 556 89 89 www.europa.delpol.pl • [email protected] • Portugal, Lisbon Margarida MARQUES (Head), Manuel ROMANO (Press Officer) Representação da Comissão Europeia em Portugal, Largo Jean Monnet n°1-10°, P-1269-068 Lisboa, Portugal Tel: +351 21 350 98 01/02/03 www.ec.europa.eu/portugal/comissao/index_pt.htm [email protected] • Romania, Bucharest Niculae IDU (Head), Daniela ROSCA (Press Officer) European Commission in Romania, 31 Vasile Lascar st., sector 2 – 020492 Bucharest, Romania Tel: +40 21 203 54 00, Fax: +40 21 212 88 08 http://ec.europa.eu/romania • [email protected] • Slovakia, Bratislava Andrea ELSCHEKOVA-MATISOVA (Head) Katarina TOUQUET-JAREMOVA (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia, Palisady 29, SK-811 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic - Tel: +421 2 5443 1718 http://ec.europa.eu/slovensko/Index_sk.htm [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.31 • Slovenia, Ljubljana Mihela ZUPANCIC (Head), Tina VONCINA (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia, Breg 14, SLO-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia - Tel: +386 1 252 8800 ec.europa.eu/slovenija/index_sl.htm • [email protected] • Spain, Madrid Francisco FONSECA MORILLO (Head) Miguel PUENTE PATTISON (Press Officer) Representación de la Comisión Europea en España, Paseo de la Castellana, 46, E-28046 Madrid, España - Tel: +34 91 423 8021 www.ec.europa.eu/spain/index_es.htm • [email protected] • Spain, Barcelona Manel CAMOS GRAU (Regional Head), Albert ROYO I MARIVE’ (Press Officer) Representación de la Comisión Europea en Barcelona, Paseo de Gracia, 90, 1°, E-08008 Barcelona, España - Tel: +34 93 467 7380 www.ec.europa.eu/spain/index_es.htm [email protected] • Sweden, Stockholm Pierre SCHELLEKENS (Head), Eric DEGERBECK (Press Officer) Europeiska Kommissionen Representationen i, Sverige, Regeringsgatan 65, PO Box 7323, 103 90 Stockholm, Sverige - Tel: +46 8 562 444 11 www.eukomm.se • [email protected] • United Kingdom, London Jonathan SCHEELE (Head), Antonia MOCHAN (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in the United Kingdom, 8, Storey’s Gate, London SW1P 3AT, United Kingdom - Tel: +44 207 9731992 www.ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom • [email protected] • United Kingdom, Cardiff Antonius KLOM (Regional Head) Rachel LANGLANDS-BROWN (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Wales, 2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff CF10 4QQ, United Kingdom - Tel: +44 2920 895 020 www.ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom • [email protected]

P.32 Reporting Brussels • United Kingdom, Edinburgh Neil MITCHISON (Regional Head), Caroline WINCHESTER (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Scotland, 9 Alva Street, Edinburgh EH2 4PH, United Kingdom Tel: +44 131 225 2058 www.ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom [email protected] • United Kingdom, Belfast Maurice MAXWELL (Regional Head), Catherine McSHANE (Press Officer) Representation of the European Commission in Northern Ireland, 74-76 Dublin Road, Belfast BT2 7HP, United Kingdom Tel: +44 28 902 40 708 www.ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom • [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.33 European Parliament

Brussels: Rue Wiertz 60B-1047 Brussels Tel. +32 (0)2 284 21 11- Fax + 32 (0)2 284 49 95 www.europarl.europa.eu

• Brussels Press Room: Entrance on Rue Vautier - Tel: +32 (0)2 284 21 11 PHS 00B 001 - Fax: +32 (0)2 284 90 82 • Strasbourg: Avenue du Président Robert Schuman, 1, CS 91024 F-67070 Strasbourg Cedex, France Tel. +33 (0)3 881 74005 - Fax: +33 (0)3 885 66035 • Luxembourg: Maison de l’Europe 7, Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes 1728 Luxembourg - Tel: +352 (0)43 00 22 597

P.34 Reporting Brussels Hotline-Newsdesk The Audiovisual Unit’s Hotline helps journalists find specific information for news reports or programmes about Europe. Tel: +32 (0)2 284 28 00 [email protected]

The European Parliament is the most accessible of the EU’s main institutions. Most of its meetings are held in public and MEPs are usually happy to speak on the record to reporters. The European Parliament has well-equipped press rooms in Brussels and Strasbourg that visiting reporters can also use. The bulk of its plenary meetings are held in Strasbourg – which, because of the transport and accommodation difficulties, makes it harder for Brussels- based journalists to cover the institution on the spot. However, live broadcasts of plenary sessions and press conferences on EbS have made the task of reporting on the Parliament easier. The creation of its own four television channels (www.europarltv.europa.eu) is designed to increase information and communication about the Parliament’s activities. While journalists’ organisations have welcomed efforts to increase the information available, they have also raised concerns that the Parliament has now begun producing ‘ready-made’ programmes in competition with traditional media without offering sufficient guarantees on editorial independence. The Parliament has no daily briefing, but it organises a pre-session press conference in its Brussels building at 11.00 on the Friday before the monthly meetings in Strasbourg. A ‘last-minute’ press briefing is held in Strasbourg at 16.00 – half an hour before the start of the sitting – on the Monday of each session week. A full list of MEPs and the committees on which they sit on can be found on the Parliament’s website: www.europarl.europa.eu

Reporting Brussels P.35 Journalists should know that MEPs are their own best spokespeople. Some are highly knowledgeable, most are able to speak in ‘sound bites’, and all are keen to be quoted on the record. However, if you cannot get hold of a politician, the Parliament’s press officers or the MEP’s assistants are also excellent sources to explain the details of legislation being discussed or its background. For big picture issues, contact the spokesperson of the Parliament president, the European Parliament spokesperson or one of the press officers. There are press officers for each of the 23 official languages of the EU, a press service for the different political groups and press officers attached to everyEP committee.

• Tel. number for Belgium (Brussels) starting: +32… • Tel. number for Strasbourg starting: +33…

EP PRESIDENT’S PRESS OFFICE Robert GOLÁNSKI President’s Spokesperson Tel: + 32 (0)2 284 16 0 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73436 M: +32 475 751 663 [email protected] Richard FREEDMAN Press Officer for the President Tel: +32 (0)2 284 14 48 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73785 M: +32 (0)498 983 239 [email protected]

EP PRESS SERVICE Jaume DUCH GUILLOT - Director for the Media and European Parliament Spokesperson Tel: +32 (0)2 284 30 00 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74705 M: +32 (0)496 599 476 [email protected] Marjory VAN DEN BROEKE Head of Press Room Unit, European Parliament Tel: +32 (0)2 284 43 04 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74336 M: +32 (0)498 983 586 [email protected]

P.36 Reporting Brussels

Ioannis DARMIS Head of the Media Services and Monitoring Unit Tel: +32 (0)2 284 38 16 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74692 M: +32 (0)498 983 269 [email protected] Fernando CARBAJO Head of the Audiovisual Unit Tel: +32 (0)2 284 48 16 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74737 M: +32 (0)498 983 363 Tel: +32 (0)2 284 07 13 [email protected]

Tip: If you know the name of the person to contact, you can simply write an e-mail using this address format: [email protected]. Or you can ring one of their helpful assistants and try to make the contact through them.

Each political group has a press service, website and e-mail list for journalists

EP Political Groups press service European People’s Party (EPP) - Robert FITZHENRY Tel: +32 (0)2 284 22 28 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74144 M: +32 (0)475 493 356 Fax: + 32 (0)2 284 17 18 [email protected] • www.epp-ed.eu Antoine RIPOLL - Chairman’s Spokesperson Tel: +32 (0)2 284 26 88 M: +32 (0)475 856 290 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 17 42 Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) - Tony ROBINSON Tel: +32 (0)2 284 30 61 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72998 M: +32 (0)475 257 410 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 06 [email protected] • http://www.socialistgroup.eu

Reporting Brussels P.37

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) - Neil CORLETT Tel: +32 (0)2 284 20 77 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74167 M: +32 (0)478 782 284 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 49 46 Fax: +33 (0)3 882 56471 [email protected] • www.alde.eu The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) - Helmut WEIXLER Tel: +32 (0)2 284 46 83 Tel: +33 (0)3 88 74760 M: +32 (0)475 671 340 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 49 44 [email protected] • www.greens-efa.org European United Left/Nordic Green Left (EUL/NGL) - Gianfranco BATTISTINI Tel: +32 (0)2 284 67 85 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72949 M: +32 (0)475 646 628 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 71 19 [email protected] • www.guengl.eu European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) - James HOLTUM Tel: +32 (0) 2 284 13 94 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73512 M: +32 (0) 473 861 762 Fax: +32 (0) 2 284 45 32 [email protected] • www.ecrgroup.eu Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) - Tania LAIKAUF Tel: +32 (0)2 284 20 74 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72801 M: +32 (0)498 981 808 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 44 [email protected] • www.efdgroup.eu

Most information about the Parliament’s activities is provided by press officers in each of the 23 language sectors: A full list of European Parliament press officers is given below, by language.

P.38 Reporting Brussels Plenary press officers Coordinator: Thomas DUDRAP Tel: +32 (0)2 284 45 24 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72850 M: +32 (0)498 983 284 [email protected] BULGARIAN SECTOR: Teodor STOYCHEV Tel: +32 (0)2 284 07 64 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74601 M: +32 (0)498 983 986 [email protected] CZECH SECTOR: Jitka POLÁŠKOVÁ Tel: + 32 (0)2 283 10 56 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73477 M: +32 (0)498 983 280 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 92 53 Fax : +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] DANISH SECTOR: Rikke ULDALL Tel: +32 (0)2 284 29 76 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74005 M: +32 (0)498 983 257 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 65 15 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79355 [email protected] DUTCH SECTOR: Sanne DE RYCK Tel: +32 (0)2 284 25 31 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73605 M: +32 (0)498 983 451 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] ESTONIAN SECTOR: Jana JALVI-ROBERTSON Tel: +32 (0)2 283 21 92 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74794 M: +32 (0)498 983 327 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] ENGLISH SECTOR: Jack BLACKWELL Tel: +32 (0)2 284 29 29 M: +32 (0)498 983 400 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 65 15 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79984 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.39

FINNISH SECTOR: Sanna KANGASHARJU Tel: +32 (0)2 284 14 98 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73612 M: +32 (0)498 983 386 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 92 53 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79355 [email protected] FRENCH SECTOR: Fabienne GUTMANN-VORMUS Tel: +32 (0)2 284 06 50 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72649 M: +32 (0)498 983 985 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79984 [email protected] GERMAN SECTOR: Constanze BECKERHOFF Tel: +32 (0)2 284 43 02 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73780 M: +32 (0)498 983 550 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 69 01 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] GREEK SECTOR: Kristina-Antigoni ELEFTERIE Tel: +32 (0)2 283 10 53 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74651 M: +32 (0)498 988 283 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79984 [email protected] HUNGARIAN SECTOR: Lőrinc RÉDEI / (István LAURINYECZ) Tel: +32 (0)2 283 23 79 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74005 M: +32 (0)498 983 402 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] ITALIAN SECTOR: Federico DE GIROLAMO Tel: +32 (0)2 283 13 89 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74005 M: +32 (0)498 983 591 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] LATVIAN SECTOR: Marika ARMANOVIČA Tel: +32 (0)2 283 10 32 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74651 M: +32 (0)498 983 352 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 92 53 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79355 [email protected]

P.40 Reporting Brussels

LITHUANIAN SECTOR: Robertas POGORELIS Tel: +32 (0)2 283 20 06 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 746 42 M: +32 (0)498 983 331 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79355 [email protected] MALTESE SECTOR: Corinne CORDINA Tel: +32 (0)2 283 10 82 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74588 M: +32 (0)498 983 300 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 69 01 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79984 [email protected] POLISH SECTOR: Andrzej SANDERSKI Tel: +32 (0)2 283 10 51 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73479 M: +32 (0)498 983 335 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 91 71 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79355 [email protected] PORTUGUESE SECTOR: Isabel NADKARNI Tel: +32 (0)2 283 21 98 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 76758 M: +32 (0)498 983 336 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 92 53 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] ROMANIAN SECTOR: Ioana BOBES Tel: +32 (0)2 283 24 60 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 76725 M: +32 (0)498 983 983 [email protected] SLOVAKIAN SECTOR: Zuzana REPKOVA-ANDREJCAKOVA Tel: +32 (0)2 283 21 19 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 76673 M: +32 (0)498 983 334 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 92 53 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] SLOVENE SECTOR: Janez VOUK Tel: +32 (0)2 283 10 53 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74897 M: +32 (0)498 983 337 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 69 01 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.41

SPANISH SECTOR: Natalia DASILVA Tel: +32 (0)2 284 43 01 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73661 M: +32 (0)498 983 985 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 92 53 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 72901 [email protected] SWEDISH SECTOR: Sara AHNBORG Tel: +32 (0)2 283 40 18 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72420 M: +32 (0)498 981 336 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 92 53 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 79355 [email protected]

Much of the Parliament’s work is conducted in committees. Each committee has a news report service. A full list of the European Parliament press officers with responsibility for the various committees is given below:

EP Committee Press Press Unit Coordinator - Ralph PINE Tel: +32 (0)2 284 29 41 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74751 M: +32 (0)498 983 587 Fax: +32 (0)2 284 49 03 Fax: +33 (0)3 881 74005 [email protected] Press Officer - Delphine COLARD Tel: +32 (0)2 284 33 83 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74934 M: +32 (0)498 984 485 [email protected]

PRESS OFFICERS BY POLICY AREA Co-ordinator- Andreas KLEINER Tel: +32 (0)2 283 22 66 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72336 M: +32 (0)498 983 322 [email protected]

P.42 Reporting Brussels

FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AFET) - Maria ANDRES MARIN (Team coordinator) Tel: +32 (0)2 284 42 99 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73603 M: +32 (0)498 98 13 45 [email protected] CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (AFCO) - Sanna KANGASHARJU (Team coordinator) Tel: +32 (0)2 284 14 98 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73612 M: +32 (0)498 98 33 86 [email protected] AGRICULTURE (AGRI) - Federico DE GIROLAMO (Team coordinator AGRI) Tel: +32 (0)2 283 13 89 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72850 M: +32 (0)498 98 35 91 [email protected] BUDGETS (BUDG) and BUDGETARY CONTROL (CONT) Sara AHNBORG (Team coordinator BUDG, SURE) Tel: +32 (0)2 283 40 18 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72420 M: +32 (0)498 98 13 36 [email protected] COMMITTEE ON THE FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CRISIS (CRIS) Rikke ULDALL (IMCO, CRIS) Tel: +32 (0)2 284 29 76 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72033 M: +32 (0)498 98 32 57 [email protected] • [email protected] CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT) - Robertas POGORELIS Tel: +32 (0)2 283 20 06 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74642 M: +32 (0)498 98 33 31 [email protected] DEVELOPMENT (DEVE) AND HUMAN RIGHTS (DROI) - Ioana BOBES Tel:+32(0)2 283 24 60 Tel: +33 (0) 3 881 76 725 M: +32 (0) 498 98 3983 [email protected] ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS (ECON) - John SCHRANZ Tel: +32 (0)2 284 42 64 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74076 M: +32 (0)2 498 98 1402 [email protected] EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (EMPL) - Nora CHAAL Tel: +32 (0)2 283 11 51 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 740 05 M: +32 (0)498 98 33 26 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.43

ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY (ENVI) - Christopher COAKLEY Tel: +32 (0)2 284 48 59 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 76853 M: +32 (0)498 983 326 [email protected] WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY (FEMM) - Ayla Sultan ÇIÇEK Tel: +32 (0)2 284 10 09 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74151 M: +32 (0)498 981 337 [email protected] INTERNAL MARKET AND CONSUMER PROTECTION (IMCO) - Rikke ULDALL Tel: +32 (0)2 284 29 76 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 72033 M: +32 (0)498 983 257 [email protected] INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (ITRE) - Janez VOUK (Team coordinator) Tel: +32 (0)2 283 10 53 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74897 M: +32 (0)498 983 337 [email protected] LEGAL AFFAIRS (JURI) - Jana JALVI-ROBERTSON Tel: +32 (0)2 283 21 92 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74794 M: +32 (0)498 983 327 [email protected] CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS (LIBE) - Isabel NADKARNI Tel: +32 (0)2 283 2198 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 76758 M: +32 (0)498 983 336 [email protected] Jan JAKUBOV Tel: +32 (0)2 283 4476 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 76673 M: +32 (0)498 983 590 [email protected] FISHERIES (PECH) - Jan JAKUBOV Tel: +32 (0)2 283 44 76 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74005 M: +32 (0)498 983 590 [email protected] • [email protected] REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (REGI) - Michaela FINDEIS Tel: +32 (0)2 283 11 41 Tel: +33 (0) 3 881 73603 M: +32 (0)498 983 332 [email protected]

P.44 Reporting Brussels

PETITIONS (PETI) - Natalia DASILVA Tel: +32 (0)2 284 43 01 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73661 M: +32 (0)498 983 985 [email protected] SECURITY and DEFENCE (INTA, SEDE) - Lorinc REDEI Tel: +32 (0)2 283 23 79 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74005 M: +32 (0)498 983 402 [email protected] • [email protected] TRANSPORT AND TOURISM (TRAN) - Michaela FINDEIS Tel: +32 (0)2 283 11 41 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 73603 M: +32 (0)498 983 332 [email protected] Seminars, Enlargement Countries - Michel PLUMLEY Tel: +32 (0)2 284 10 56 Tel: +33 (0)3 881 74909 M: +32 (0)498 983 238 [email protected]

EP Press Publications: The Parliament’s press division produces a number of publications journalists may find useful. You can receive these by e-mail, by contacting the press officers in the language sectors or by visiting ‘our publications’ on the Parliament’s website. The following are the three main publications – in all the EU’s 23 official languages – dealing with parliamentary sessions: • The Briefing: Published during the week before the plenary session, this summarises reports and other items on the agenda. • The Daily Notebook: Reports on debates and votes as they take place during plenary sessions. • The Week: A newsletter that reviews the plenary debates and votes after the session has ended. Three publications – in English and French – provide information about com- mittee meetings: • News Report: A daily news bulletin on meetings of parliamentary commit- tees and public hearings.

Reporting Brussels P.45 • News Alert: Published every Friday, this news sheet lists the upcoming week’s parliamentary activities, such as committee meetings, press con- ferences, and hearings. • Background Notes: This occasional publication provides detailed infor- mation about specific topics. Like the Commission, the European Parliament has information offices in every EU capital, as well as some other major cities and candidate countries. These are often a first port of call for journalists operating outside Brussels.

EP Information Offices in EU Countries One of the main roles of the information offices is to provide journalists with information about Parliament and help them in their contacts with the institution.

Co-ordinator - Paula FERNANDEZ-HERVAS Tel: +32 (0)2 284 25 35 Tel: +33(0)3 881 74768 M: +32 (0) 498 983 226 [email protected]

• AUSTRIA - Haus der Europäischen Union, Wipplingerstrasse 35 A-1010 Vienna Tel: +43 1 516 17206 - Fax: +43 1 513 25 15 [email protected] • www.europarl.at • BELGIUM - rue Wiertz 60, B-1047 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 284 20 05 - Fax: +32 (0)2 230 75 55 [email protected] • www.europarl.europa.eu/brussels • BULGARIA - 9 Moskovska Str., BG-1000 Sofia Tel: +359 2 985 35 43 - Fax: +359 2 981 99 44 [email protected] • www.europarl.bg • CYPRUS - 30 Vyronos Avenue, CY-1096 Nicosia Tel: +357 22 87 05 00 - Fax: +357 22 76 77 33 [email protected] • www.europarl.cy • CZECH REPUBLIC - Jungmannova 24, CZ-110 00 Prague 1 Tel: +420 255 708 270 - Fax: +420 255 708 200 [email protected] • www.evropsky-parlament.cz

P.46 Reporting Brussels • DENMARK - Europa-Parlamentet, Informationskontoret i Danmark Europa-Huset, Gothersgade 115, DK-1123 Copenhagen K Tel: +45 3 3143377 - Fax: +45 3 3150805 [email protected] • www.europarl.dk • ESTONIA - Euroopa Parlamendi, Infobüroo Eestis, Rävala 4 EE-10143 Tallin Tel: +372 630 6967 - Fax: +372 630 6968 [email protected] • www.europarl.ee • FINLAND - Pohjoisesplanadi 31, Norra esplanaden 31, FIN-00100 Helsinki Tel: +358 962 204521 - Fax: +358 9 6222610 [email protected] • www.europarl.fi • FRANCE - Boulevard St-Germain 288, F-75341 Paris Cedex 07 Tel: +33 1 40 63 40 07 - Fax: +33 1 45 51 52 53 [email protected] • www.europarl.fr • FRANCE - Avenue du Président Robert Schuman 1, CS 91024, F-67070 Strasbourg Cedex Tel: +33 3 88 17 40 01 - Fax: +33 3 88 17 51 84 [email protected] • FRANCE - Rue Henri Barbusse 2, F-13241 Marseille Tel: +33 4 91 91 46 00 - Fax: +33 4 91 90 95 03 [email protected] http://sudest.europarl.fr/view/fr/bienvenue.html • GERMANY - Unter den Linden 78, D-10117 Berlin Tel: +49 30 22801200 - Fax: +49 30 22801111 [email protected] • www.europarl.de • GERMANY - Erhardtstr. 27, D-80469 Munich Tel: +49 89 202 08790 - Fax: +49 89 202 087973 [email protected] • GREECE - Leof. Amalias 8, GR-105 57 Athens Tel +30 210 327 89 24 - Fax: +30 210 331 15 40 [email protected] • www.europarl.gr

Reporting Brussels P.47 • HUNGARY - European Parliament Information Office for Hungary H-1024 Budapest Lövőház u. 35. Tel: +36 1 411 3552 - Fax: +36 1 411 3560 [email protected] • www.europarl.europa.eu/budapest • IRELAND - European Union House, 43 Molesworth Street, IRL Dublin 2 Tel: +353 1 6057932 - Fax: +353 1 6057999 [email protected] • www.europarl.ie • ITALY - Via IV Novembre 149, I-00187 Rome Tel: +39 06 699 50236 - Fax: +39 06 699 502 00 [email protected] • www.europarl.it • ITALY - Corso Magenta 59, I-20123 Milan Tel: +39 02 43 44 171 - Fax: +39 02 43 44 17 500 [email protected] • LATVIA - Aspazijas Boulevard 28, LV - 1050 Riga Tel: +371 708 54 68 - Fax: +371 7 08 54 70 [email protected] • www.europarl.lv • LITHUANIA - Naugarduko st. 10, LT-01141 Vilnius Tel: +370 5 212 1530 - Fax: +370 5 261 98 28 [email protected] • www.europarl.lt • LUXEMBOURG - Maison de l’Europe, 7 Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, L-1728 Luxembourg Tel: +352 4300 22597 - Fax: +352 4300 22457 [email protected] • www.europarl.lu • MALTA - Europe House 254 St. Paul Street Valletta VLT 1215, Valletta Tel: +356 21 23 50 75 - Fax: +356 21 22 75 80 [email protected] • www.europarlmt.eu • THE NETHERLANDS - Korte Vijverberg 6, NL-2513 AB The Hague Tel: +31 70 313 54 22 - Fax: +31 70 364 70 01 [email protected] • www.europeesparlement.nl • POLAND - Biuro Informacyjne Parlamentu Europejskiego w Polsce, ul. Jasna 14/16 a, 00-041 Warsaw Tel: +48 22 595 24 84 - Fax: +48 22 595 24 80 [email protected] • www.europarl.pl

P.48 Reporting Brussels • PORTUGAL - Centro Europeu Jean Monnet, Largo Jean Monnet 1-6, P-1269-070 Lisbon Tel: +351 21 350 49 13 - Fax: +351 21 354 00 04 [email protected] • www.parleurop.pt • ROMANIA - Strada Vasile Lascar, nr. 31, and 1 Sector 2 020492, Bucarest Tel: + 40 21 405 08 80 - Fax: +40 21 405 08 86 [email protected] • www.europarl.europa.eu/bucuresti • SLOVAK REPUBLIC - Informačná kancelária, Európskeho parlamentu, Palisády 29, SK-811 06 Bratislava Tel: +421 2 59 203295 - Fax: +421 5942 9687 [email protected] • www.europskyparlament.sk • SLOVENIA - Breg 14, SL-1000 Ljubljana Tel: +386 1252 88 42 - Fax: +386 1 252 88 40 [email protected] • www.europarl.si • SPAIN - Paseo de la Castellana 46, E-28046 Madrid Tel: +34 91 436 47 30 - Fax: +34 91 578 31 71 [email protected] • SPAIN - Passeig de Gràcia 90, 1ª planta, E-08008 Barcelona Tel: +34 93 272 20 44 - Fax: +34 93 272 20 45 [email protected] • http://www.europarlbarcelona.eu/ [email protected] • SWEDEN - Regeringsgatan 65, 6 tr, SE-111 56 Stockholm Tel: +46 8 562 444 61 - Fax: +46 8 562 444 99 [email protected] • www.europaparlamentet.se • UNITED KINGDOM - Europe House 32 Smith Square London SW1P 3EU Tel: +44 20 7227 4335 - Fax: +44 20 7227 4302 Fax: +44 20 7227 4301 (Library) - Fax: +44 20 7227 4327 (Press) [email protected] • www.europarl.org.uk • UNITED KINGDOM - The Tun, 4 Jackson’s Entry Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ Tel: +44 131 5577866 - Fax: +44 131 5574977 [email protected] www.europarl.org.uk/about-us/about-us/office-scotland

Reporting Brussels P.49 Council of the European Union European Council

Justus Lipsius building Rue de la Loi 175 B-1048 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 281 61 11 [email protected]

The Council of the European Union, often seen as the most powerful of the Union’s three major institutions, brings together the governments of the 27 EU Member States. The European Council (which is composed of the heads of state or government of the European Union and the president of the Commission) is the driving force behind the European Union, setting its course and its political priorities. It is headed by the President of the European Council.

Council

Media contact with the Council occurs mainly on the occasion of ministerial meetings: background briefings and documents are provided before these meetings, flash press releases and Council conclusions are issued during them, and they are followed by a press conference. The Council press office is also available for background information about Council preparations, which occurs notably in the weekly meetings of Coreper 2, the forum for national permanent representatives or Coreper 1 for their deputies. There are no regular daily briefings by the Council’s press officers, although briefings are always given before a ministerial meeting, and technical or thematic background briefings are also frequently scheduled. The pre-Council briefings are usually given by the six-monthly rotating Council presidency supported by the Council Secretariat. The spokespersons for the presidency are also important contacts.

P.50 Reporting Brussels Rotating presidencies The presidency of the Council changes twice a year: on January 1st and July 1st. During its six-month term, the presidency chairs Council meetings in all configurations except for the “Foreign Affairs” Council, which is chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . Informal ministerial meetings are held in the country holding the presidency, providing an opportunity for reporters based outside Brussels and notably in the country of the presidency to report on European issues. The next presidencies are:

Poland July-December 2011 Denmark January-June 2012 Cyprus July-December 2012 Ireland January-June 2013 lithuania July-December 2013 Greece January-June 2014 Italy July-December 2014 latvia January-June 2015 luxembourg July-December 2015

National Permanent representations also organise meetings for their country’s media, which can be open to media from other countries. Their press officers can be contacted for information about the respective national positions.

Note: The Council of the European Union, also known as “the Council” or “Council of Ministers” – meets in Brussels most of the year. However, due to a legal obligation enshrined in the EU treaties, all ministerial meetings in April, June and October are in Luxembourg.

Reporting Brussels P.51 European Council The Lisbon Treaty turned the European Council into an institution in its own right. In addition, it created the position of ‘President’ of the European Council, nominated for two-and-a-half years, with the possibility of renewing his/her nomination for another similar term to a maximum of five years. The main tasks of the President of the European Council are to prepare, chair and lead its meetings, to make sure that decisions are subsequently put into practice and to represent the European Union abroad at his level. At present, the president of European council is Herman van Rompuy.

Spokesperson for President Van Rompuy: Dirk De BACKER Tel: +32 (0)2 281 97 68 M: +32 (0)497 599 919 [email protected]

The European Council meets at least 4 times a year, in Brussels. In practice, it has tended in recent years to meet more frequently than that, sometimes in informal or extraordinary meetings. Special accreditation is needed to access the press centre during European Council meetings.

Tip: Details can be found on the website of the rotating six month presidency. The URL is www.eu+current year.the initials of the country e.g. http://www.eu2011.hu/.

Summits with third countries (e.g. EU-Russia, EU-US, etc.) are also held in the Council / European Council building when they take place in Europe.

P.52 Reporting Brussels Council Press Office As a one-stop-shop for finding out what is happening in the Council, its press service is a good place to start. Council press officers speak on background. The Council Press Office supports the Council and its Presidency. It also supports the European Council and its President. The Council Press Office includes press officers responsible for specific Council policy areas, such as environment or foreign affairs. It is also in charge of the Council press centre and runs an audiovisual sector. Press conferences and public events in the Council can be followed by video streaming: http://video.consilium.europa.eu/

Video coverage of Council / European Council events is available for preview and download in broadcast quality (MPEG4) on: http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu

Central Press Office secretariat: Tel. +32 (0)2 281 63 19 Fax +32 (0)2 281 80 26 [email protected] Head of the Press Office: Nicolas KERLEROUX Tel: +32 (0)2 281 82 39 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)475 369 676 [email protected] Support to the European Council President: Deputy Spokesperson: Jesús CARMONA Tel: +32 (0)2 281 95 48 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)475 653 215 [email protected] Secretariat: Tel: +32 (0)2 281 51 50 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.53 Council Press Officers

Economic and Financial Affairs, General Affairs: François HEAD Tel: +32 (0)2 281 60 83 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)475 953 807 [email protected] Foreign Affairs: Mary BRAZIER Tel: +32 (0)2 281 51 83 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)477 970 874 [email protected] Economic and Financial Affairs; General Affairs; Summits: Azadeh SHARAFSHAHI Tel. +32 (0)2 281 31 95 M +32 (0) 475 691 865 [email protected] Coordination; Justice and Home Affairs and Counter-terrorism: Jochen MÜLLER Tel: +32 (0)2 281 89 14 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)477 974 224 [email protected] Justice and Home Affairs (Justice); Environment; Development Cooperation: Susanne KIEFER Tel: +32 (0)2 281 94 42 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)473 923 308 [email protected] Agriculture and Fisheries: Xavier PAVARD Tel. +32 (0)2 281 83 52 M: +32 (0)477 991 710 [email protected] Competitiveness (Industry, Research and Internal Market) : Víctor FLAVIAN Tel: +32 (0)2 281 67 15 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)473 640 390 [email protected] TTE (Transport, Telecommunications, Energy) Telecommunications and Energy: Miriam VANČOVÁ Tel: +32 (0)2 281 97 76 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)473 640 377 [email protected]

P.54 Reporting Brussels

TTE (Transport, Telecommunications, Energy) - Transport: Reinhard SCHMIDT Tel: +32 (0)2 281 88 47 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)479 955 086 [email protected] Budget; Health and Consumer Affairs: Jérôme UNTERHUBER Tel: +32 (0)2 281 53 94 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0) 473 923 628 [email protected] Employment, Social Policy : Evi LIASKOU Tel. +32 (0)2 281 52 72 M +32 (0) 470 960 477 [email protected] Education, Youth, Culture and Sport: Helena GOMES Tel. +32 (0)2 281 70 40 M +32 (0)479 955 079 [email protected] Crisis management mechanisms; Coordination of the public sessions of the Council; Videostreaming; Social media: Dana MANESCU Tel: +32 (0)2 281 44 77 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)473 923 477 [email protected]

Audiovisual:

Audiovisual counsellor: Isabelle BRUSSELMANS Tel: +32 (0)2 281 57 13 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)475 753 406 [email protected] Producer: Andrea DESORMEAUX Tel: +32 (0)2 281 67 16 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 80 26 M: +32 (0)477 973 552 [email protected] • [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.55 Press centre

Coreper II Councils / European Council: Margarete GILOT-KÖHLER Tel: +32 (0)2 281 65 50 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 85 41 [email protected] Coreper I Councils /Photo Department/European Council: Valerie GOLDSMITH Tel: +32 (0)2 281 89 69 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 50 65 M: +32 (0)476 762 156 [email protected]

Tip: Members of Council press office speak on condition of anonymity. They are usually quoted as ‘EU sources’ or ‘EU officials’, but not as ‘Council press officers’ or by their name. Before each Council meeting, the press service produces a background briefing that is available on the web in English and French. At the end of the meeting, the provisional conclusions are also posted on the internet.

P.56 Reporting Brussels Press officers at Permanent Representations • Austria: Avenue de Cortenberg 30, B-1040 Brussels Alexander PAIER - Mobile: +32 (0)475 651 713 Tel: +32 (0)2 234 53 44 - Fax: +32 (0)2 235 63 44 [email protected] Sonja ROSENBERGER - Mobile: +32 (0)477 333 425 Tel: +32 (0)234 52 15 - Fax: +32 (0)2 235 62 15 [email protected] http://www.bmeia.gv.at/index.php?id=65590&L=1 • Belgium: Rue de la Loi 61-63, B-1040, Brussels Bernard BULCKE - Mobile: +32 (0)475 721 449 Tel: +32 (0)2 233 03 92 - Fax: +32 (0)2 233 03 20 [email protected] • http://www.diplomatie.be/belgoeurop/ • Bulgaria: Sq. Marie-Louise 49, Brussels 1000 Victoria MELAMED - Mobile: +32 (0)472 213 492 Tel: +32 (0)2 235 83 47 - Fax: +32 (0)2 374 91 88 [email protected] • http://www.mfa.bg/brussels-eu/ • Cyprus: Avenue de Cortenberg 61, B-1000 Brussels Maria PHANTI - Mobile: +32 (0)474 333 372 Tel: +32 (0)2 739 51 39 - Fax: +32 (0)2 736 65 73 [email protected] Marianna KARAGEORGIS - Mobile: +32 (0)475 862 395 Tel: +32 (0)2 739 61 89 - Fax: +32 (0)2 736 65 79 [email protected] http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/permrep/permrep_brussels.nsf/ DMLrepresentation_en/DMLrepresentation_en?OpenDocument# • Czech Republic: Rue Caroly 15, B-1050 Brussels Radek HONZÁK - Mobile: +32 (0)473 553 316 Tel: +32 (0)2 213 93 32 - Fax +32 (0)2 213 92 92 [email protected] • www.mzv.cz/representation_brussels/en/index.html

Reporting Brussels P.57 • Denmark: Rue d’Arlon 73, B-1040 Brussels Jakob ALVI - Mobile: +32 (0)475 603 819 Tel: +32 (0)2 233 09 46 - Fax: +32 (0)2 233 08 92 [email protected] • www.eurepraesentationen.um.dk/en • Estonia: Rue Guimard 11/13, B-1040 Brussels Helen ENNOK - Mobile: +32 (0)474 981 657 Tel: +32 (0)2 227 39 22 - Fax +32 (0)2 227 39 25 [email protected] • www.eu.estemb.be/eng • Finland: Rue de Trèves 100, B-1040 Brussel Jussi SEPPÄLÄ - Mobile: +32 (0)476 950 547 Tel: +32 (0)2 287 84 72 - Fax: +32 (0)2 287 84 05 [email protected] • http://www.finland.eu/ • France: Place de Louvain 14, B-1000 Brussels Gael VEYSSIERE - Mobile: +32 (0)475 579 095 Tel: +32 (0)2 229 82 78/77 - Fax: +32 (0)2 229 82 80 [email protected] Myriam SAINT-PIERRE - Mobile: +32 (0)478 882 935 Tel: +32 (0)2 229 82 84 - Fax: +32 (0)2 229 82 80 [email protected] • www.rpfrance.eu/ • Germany: Rue Jacques de Lalaing 8/14, B-1040 Brussels Stefan BREDOHL - Mobile: +32 (0)475 053 927 Tel: +32 (0)2 787 10 70 - Fax: +32 (0)2 787 20 70 [email protected] • www.eu-vertretung.de Holger DREISEITL - Mobile: +32 (0)476 760 675 Tel: +32 (0)2 787 10 72 [email protected] • Greece: Avenue des Arts 39, 1040 Brussels Konstantinos PAPPAS - Mobile: +32 (0)473 514 034 Tel: +32 (0)2 235 03 75 - Fax: +32 (0)2 230 66 51 [email protected] Eleni DRAKOPOULOU - Mobile: +32 (0)472 036 756 Tel: +32 (0)2 235 03 80 - Fax: +32 (0)2 230 66 51 [email protected] • http://www.greekembassy-press.be/

P.58 Reporting Brussels • hungary: Rue de Trèves 92-98, B-1040 Brussels Magda JÓZAN - Mobile : +32 (0)473 825 062 Tel: +32 (0)2 234 1313 - Fax: +32 (0)2 230 43 51 [email protected] Gergely POLNER - Mobile: +32 (0)491 355 460 Tel: +32 (0)2 234 12 83 - Fax: +32 (0)2 230 43 51 [email protected] • www.hungrep.be • Ireland: Rue Froissart 50, B-1040 Brussels Deirdre FARRELL - Mobile: +32 (0)499 585 300 Tel: +32 (0)2 282 32 33 - Fax: +32 (0)2 230 31 88 [email protected] Peter McHUGH Tel: +32 (0)2 282 32 45 - Fax: +32 (0)2 230 31 88 [email protected] • www.irelandrepbrussels.be • Italy: Rue du Marteau 7-15, B-1000 Brussels Michelangelo NERINI - Mobile: +32 (0)492 610 172 Tel: +32 (0)2 220 04 32 - Fax: +32 (0)2 219 35 47 [email protected] • www.italiaue.esteri.it • latvia: Avenue des Arts 23, B-1000 Brussels Evelīna MELBĀRZDE - Mobile: +32 (0)475 865 148 Tel: +32 (0)2 238 32 20 - Fax: +32 (0)2 238 32 50 [email protected] • www.mfa.gov.lv/en/brussels • Lithuania: Rue Belliard 41/43, B-1040 Brussels Andrius GRIKIENIS - Mobile: +32 (0)477 701 528 Tel: +32 (0)2 775 90 98 - Fax: +32 (0)2 513 45 97 [email protected] • www.eurep.mfa.lt • Luxembourg: Avenue de Cortenberg 75, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 737 56 00 - Fax: +32 (0)2 737 56 10 - Tel: +352 (0)27 375 600 [email protected] • Malta: Rue Archimède 25, B-1000 Brussels Anis CASSAR - Mobile: +32 (0)497 647 311 Tel: +32 (0)2 238 26 84 - Fax: +32 (0)2 343 01 06 [email protected] • www.doi.gov.mt

Reporting Brussels P.59 • Netherlands: Avenue Hermann Debroux 48, B-1160 Brussels Tony AGOTHA - Mobile: +32 (0)475 669 252 Tel: +32 (0)2 679 15 09 - Fax: +32 (0)2 679 17 74 [email protected] • www.eu-nederland.be • Poland: Avenue de Tervuren 282/284, B-1150 Brussels Kacper CHMIELEWSKI - Mobile: +32 (0)492 727 219 Tel: +32 (0)2 780 42 25 - Fax: +32 (0)2 780 42 97 [email protected] Renata BANCARZEWSKA - Mobile: +32 (0)492 727 220 Tel: +32 (0)2 780 42 61 - Fax: +32 (0)2 780 42 97 [email protected] • www.brukselaeu.polemb.net • Portugal: Avenue de Cortenbergh 12, 1040 Brussels Maria Rui FONSECA - Mobile: +32 (0)478 270 224 Tel: +32 (0)2 286 43 00 - Fax: +32 (0)2 231 00 26 [email protected] • www.reper-portugal.be • Romania: Rue Montoyer 12, B-1000 Brussels Brindusa Gabriela CHIRIBUTA - Mobile: +32 (0)475 651 300 Tel: +32 (0)2 700 03 06 - Fax: +32 (0)2 700 06 41 [email protected] • http://ue.mae.ro/ • Slovakia: Avenue de Cortenberg 79, B-1000 Brussels Dagmar SULEJMANI - Mobile: +32 (0)479 397 488 Tel: +32 (0)2 743 68 07 - Fax: +32 (0)2 743 68 88 [email protected] • www.mzv.sk/szbrusel • Slovenia: Rue du Commerce 44, 1000 Brussels Uroš MAHKOVEC - Mobile: +32 (0)499 696 780 Tel: +32 (0)2 213 63 25 - Fax: +32 (0)2 213 63 01 [email protected] • http://bruselj.predstavnistvo.si/ • Spain: Boulevard du Régent 52, B-1000 Brussels Ana de Miguel LANGA - Mobile: +32 (0)476 460 723 Tel: +32 (0)2 509 86 42 - Fax: +32 (0)2 511 48 56 [email protected]

P.60 Reporting Brussels Beatriz MONGE MORENO - Mobile: +32 (0)474 742 056 Tel: +32 (0)2 509 87 44 - Fax: +32 (0)2 511 48 46 www.es-ue.org • Sweden: Square de Meeûs 30, B-1000 Brussels Elisabet DAHLÉN JONSSON - Mobile: +32 (0)476 505 022 Tel: +32 (0)2 289 56 65 - Fax: +32 (0)2 289 57 32 [email protected] Martina SMEDBERG - Mobile: +32 (0)475 245 660 Tel: +32 (0)2 289 56 55 - Fax: +32 (0)2 289 56 00 [email protected] • www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2254 • United Kingdom: Avenue d’Auderghem 10, B-1040 Brussels Tim FOLEY - Mobile: +32 (0)475 446 323 Tel: +32 (0)2 287 82 06 - Fax: +32 (0)2 287 83 98 [email protected] Nicola KELLY - Mobile: +32 (0)486 090 032 Tel: +32 (0)2 282 89 13 - Fax: +32 (0)2 287 83 98 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.61 European External Action Service (EEAS) 1046 Brussels - Belgium - Tel: +32 2 584 11 11

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is a unique European Union department established following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1st December 2009. It was formally launched on 1st December 2010 and serves as a foreign ministry and diplomatic corps for the EU. It is under the authority of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR), a post also created by the Treaty of Lisbon.

The EEAS manages the EU’s response to crises, has intelligence capabili- ties and cooperates with the Commission in areas with which it shares competence. However, although the High Representative and the EEAS can propose and implement policy, it does not make policy as that is left to the Foreign Affairs Council chaired by the High Representative, currently Baron- ess Katherine Ashton.

To contact the EEAS Michael MANN EEAS Spokesperson BERL 2/328 Tel: +32 (0)2 299 97 80 M: +32 (0)498 999 780 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 [email protected] Maja KOCIJANCIC Deputy Spokesperson BERL 2/320 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 65 70 M: +32 (0)498 984 425 Fax: +32 (0) 295 19 15 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected] Darren ENNIS Press Officer BERL 2/319 Tel: +32 (0)2 296 32 93 M: +32 (0)498 963 293 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected]

P.62 Reporting Brussels

Iulia COSTEA Secretary BERL 2/325 Tel: +32 (0)2 297 68 55 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected] Delphine LIEVREMONT Secretary BERL 2/325 Tel: +32 (0)2 298 17 46 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 19 15 [email protected] Functional mailbox: [email protected]

Other EU institutions Apart from the European Parliament, Commission and Council of the European Union, there are several other institutions, some based outside Brussels, which provide news for journalists. The Court of Justice, in particular is a treasure-trove of good stories for reporters willing to invest their time and energy in covering the EU’s ‘Supreme Court’. It is located in Luxembourg. Its multilingual press service is very helpful and ready to explain subtle legal issues to clarify the meaning of rulings. The European Central Bank has also become increasingly relevant since the introduction of the euro, the single currency at present shared by 17 EU member states. Its headquarters are in Frankfurt.

Reporting Brussels P.63 European Central Bank Eurotower - Kaiserstrasse 29, D-60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Tel: +49 69 1344 0 www.ecb.int • [email protected] Director of Communication: Elisabeth Ardaillon-Poirier [email protected] Head of Press and Information Division: Regina Karoline Schüller, Tel: +49 69 1344 7457 - [email protected]

Court of Justice of the European Union Palais de la Cour de Justice - Boulevard Konrad Adenauer Kirchberg, L-2925 Luxembourg - Tel: +352 4303 1 www.curia.europa.eu If journalists wish to attend a hearing or the delivery of a judgement, they must obtain prior accreditation: (http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/ application/pdf/2009-02/en_accreditation.pdf)

• Head of Division - Juan Carlos GONZÁLEZ ÁLVAREZ Tel: +352 4303 2623 2035 – Fax: +352 4303 2500 • Unit France, Luxembourg - Marie-Christine LECERF Tel: +352 4303 32053315 – Fax: + 352 4303 3034 • Unit Netherlands, Belgium - Stefaan VAN DER JEUGHT Tel: +352 4303 21703046 – Fax: +352 4303 2988 • Unit Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia Gitte STADLER Tel: + 352 4303 3127/2981 – Fax: +352 4303 3656 • Unit Germany, Austria – Jens HAMER Tel: + 352 4303 3255/3645 – Fax: + 352 4303 2734 • Unit Italy, Greece, Cyprus - Estella CIGNA Tel: + 352 4303 2582 / 2180 (Greece and Cyprus) /3552 (Italy) - Fax: + 352 4303 2674

P.64 Reporting Brussels • Unit United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta - Christopher FRETWELL Tel: + 352 4303 3355 / 3366 – Fax: + 352 4303 2731 • Unit Spain, Portugal - Agnès LOPEZ GAY Tel: + 352 4303 3667 / 3442 – Fax: + 352 4303 2668 • Unit Poland, Slovenia - Ireneusz KOLOWCA Tel: + 352 4303 2793 / 2878 – Fax: + 352 4303 2053 • Unit Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia - Balázs LEHOCZKI Tel: + 352 4303 5499 / 3668 – Fax: + 352 4303 2028 • Unit Bulgaria, Iliiana PALIOVA Tel: + 352 4303 3708 – Fax: + 352 4303 4719 • Unit Romania, Claudiu ECEDI-STOISAVLEVICI Tel: + 352 4303 3720 – Fax: + 352 4303 3034 European Court of Auditors 12 Rue Alcide De Gasperi, L-1615 Luxembourg www.eca.europa.eu • Press contact at Communication and Reports Unit Michel BULZ - Tel: +352 4398 45410 – Fax: +352 4398 46233 [email protected] European Economic and Social Committee 99, Rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels www.eesc.europa.eu • Press Officers: Tel: +32 2 546 80 66 - Secretariat: +32 2 546 87 88 - Fax: +32 2 546 97 64

Reporting Brussels P.65 Committee of the Regions Bâtiment Jacques Delors - Rue Belliard 101 - B-1040 Brussels Belgium Tel+32 (0)2 282 22 11 – Fax: +32 (0)2 282 23 25 E-mail addresses: [email protected] www.cor.europa.eu • Director of Press and Communication - Christian GSODAM Tel: +32 (0)2 282 21 21 - Fax: +32 (0)2 282 21 09 [email protected]

European Investment Bank 100, Boulevard Konrad Adenauer - L-2950 Luxembourg Tel: +352 43 79 1 – Fax: +352 43 79 21 99 • Press Officer in Luxembourg - Sabine PARISSE Tel: +352 79 833 40 – Fax: +352 4379 6130 [email protected] • www.eib.org • Press Officer in Brussels - Nicholas ANTONOVICS Tel: +32 (0)2 235 00 84 – Fax: +32 (0)2 235 08 27 [email protected] • Press office Head of Division - Rainer SCHLITT Tel: +352 43 79 21000 - Fax: +352 43 79 61000 [email protected] • www.eib.org/press • [email protected] • General enquiries Tel: +352 43 79 22000 - Fax: +352 4379 62000 [email protected]

P.66 Reporting Brussels European Ombudsman 1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman - B.P. 403 FR-67001 Strasbourg Cedex Tel: +33 3 881 72313 – Fax: +33 3 881 79062 [email protected] www.ombudsman.europa.eu • For press inquiries: Press Officer Gundi GADESMANN Tel: +32 (0)2 284 26 09 - Fax: +32 (0)2 284 49 14 - M: +32 (0)475 348 993 [email protected]

European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) OLAF - Mail address OLAF, European Commission Rue Joseph II, 30, B-1049 Brussels • Spokesperson, Pavel BORKOVEC Tel: +32 (0)2 298 82 51 - Fax: +32 (0)2 299 81 01 [email protected] • http://ec.europa.eu/olaf

Eurostat, Statistical Office of the EU Bâtiment Jean Monnet, L-2920 Luxembourg, Luxembourg Tel: +352 4301 33444 – Fax: +352 4301 35349 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat [email protected]

• For specific information and extraction of statistical data: Tel: +352 (0)4301 33408 - Fax: +352 (0)4301 35349 [email protected] • Head of Press Office - Tim ALLEN Tel: +352 (0)4301 33444

Reporting Brussels P.67 EU Agencies • CdT, Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union Bâtiment Nouvel hémicycle, 1 rue du Fort Thüngen, L-1499 Luxembourg Tel: +352 42 17 11 1 - Fax: +352 42 17 11 220 Catherine STEINMETZ - Tel: +352 42 17 11 213 - Fax: +352 42 17 11 220 [email protected] • www.cdt.europa.eu • Cedefop, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training Europe 123, GR-57001 Thessaloniki (Pylea), Greece Tel: +30 2310 490 111 - Fax: +30 23 10 49 00 49 Gerd Oskar BAUSSEWEIN - Tel: +30 23 10 49 02 88 - Fax: +30 23 10 49 00 99 [email protected] www.cedefop.gr • www.cedefop.europa.eu • CFCA, Community Fisheries Control Agency Edificio Odriozola, Avenida Garcia Barbon 4, E-36201, Vigo, Spain Tel: + 34 986 120610 – Fax: +34 886 12 5234 [email protected] • www.cfca.europa.eu • CPVO, Community Plant Variety Office Boulevard Maréchal Foch 3, 49000 ANGERS, France Tel: +33 2 41 25 64 00 - Fax: +33 2 41 25 64 10 - Fabien SANTOIRE [email protected] • www.cpvo.europa.eu • EASA, European Aviation Safety Agency Ottoplatz1, D-50679, Koln, Germany, Tel:+ 49 221 89 99 00 00, Fax: + 49 221 89 99 09 99 [email protected] • www.easa.europa.eu • ECDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 171 83 Stockholm - Sweden - Tomtebodavägen 11a, Solna, Sweden Tel: +468 586 01000 - Fax: +468 586 01001 Sarah EARNSHAW - Tel: +468 5860 1624 [email protected] • www.ecdc.europa.eu

P.68 Reporting Brussels • ECHA, European Chemicals Agency Annankatu 18, 00120 Helsinki, Finland Tel: +358 9 686 180 - Fax:+358 9 686 18210 - Juhani SORMUNEN [email protected] • www.echa.europa.eu • EEA, European Environment Agency Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel: +45 3336 7100 - Fax: +45-3336 7199 Gülçin KARADENIZ - Mobile: +45 2368 3653 - Tel: +45 3336 7172 Iben STANHARDT - Mobile: +45 2336 1381 - Tel: +45 3336 7168 Oscar ROMERO SANCHEZ - Mobile: +45 2368 3671 - Tel: +45 3336 7207 [email protected] • www.eea.europa.eu • EFSA, European Food Safety Authority Largo N. Palli 5/A (on the Viale Mentana) I-43100 Parma, Italy Tel: +39 0521 036 111 - Fax: +39 0521 036 110 Stephen PAGANI - Tel: +39 052 103 68 74 - Fax: +39 052 103 608 74 [email protected] • www.efsa.europa.eu • EIGE, European Institute for Gender Quality Švitrigailos g. 11M, LT-03228 Vilnius, Lithuania Tel: +370 5 239 4140 - Jesper HANSEN [email protected] • www.eige.europa.eu • EMA, European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products 7 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HB, UK - Tel: +44 20 7418 8400 Martin HARVEY-ALLCHURCH - Tel: +44 20 7418 427 - Fax: +44 20 7478 8409 [email protected] • www.ema.europa.eu • EMCDDA, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Cais deSodre 1249-289 Lisbon, Portugal Tel: +351 211 21 0200 - Fax: +351 21 813 1711 Kathy ROBERTSON - Tel: +351 211 21 02 00/32 - Fax: +351 21 813 1711 [email protected] • www.emcdda.europa.eu • EMSA, European Maritime Safety Agency Cais do Sodre. 1249- 206 Lisbon, Portugal Tel: +351 21 1209 200, Fax: +351 21 1209 212 [email protected] • www.emsa.europa.eu

Reporting Brussels P.69 • ENISA, European Network and Information Security Agency P.O. Box 1309 71001 Heraklion - Crete - Greece Tel: +30 28 10 39 1280 Ulf BERGSTRÖM - M: +30 6948 460 143 - Tel: +330 28 1039 1286 [email protected] • www.enisa.europa.eu • ERA, European Railway Agency 120, Rue Marc Lefranq 59300 Valenciennes, France Tel: +33 3 227 09 65 00 - Fax: +33 3 27 33 40 65 Thorsten HAHN - Tel: +33 3 27 09 65 95 - Fax: + 33 3 27 09 65 95 [email protected] • www.era.europa.eu • ETF, European Training Foundation Villa Gualino, Viale Settimio Severo 65, I-10133 Torino, Italy Tel: +39 011 630 2222 - Fax: +39 011 2200 - Bent SORENSEN [email protected] • www.etf.europa.eu • EU-OSHA, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain Tel: +34 944 794 360 - Fax: +34 944 794 383 Birgit MÜLLER - Tel: +34 94 479 35 52 - Fax: +34 94 479 43 83 [email protected] In Brussels: Square de Meeûs 38/40, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Brenda O’BRIEN - M: +32 (0)477 175 770 Tel: +32 (0)2 401 68 59 - Fax: +32 (0)2 401 68 68 [email protected] • www.osha.europa.eu • Eurofound, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions Wayttville Road, Loughlinstown, Dublin 18, Ireland Tel: +353 12 04 31 24 - Fax: +353 12 82 64 56 Mans MARTENSSON - Tel: +353 12 04 31 24 - Fax: +353 12 02 42 09 [email protected] Avenue d’Auderghem 20, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 280 64 76 - Tel: +32 (0)2 230 51 61 - Fax: +32 (0)2 280 64 79 www.eurofound.ie

P.70 Reporting Brussels • EUROPOL PO Box 90850 - NL-2509 LW The Hague, Netherlands Tel: +31 70 302 5000 [email protected] Soren Kragh PEDERSEN Tel: +31 70 30 25 118 [email protected] • www.europol.europa.eu • FRA, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Schwarzenbergplatz 11, AT-1040 Vienna, Austria Tel: +43 1 580 30 60 - Fax: +43 1 580 30 699 Andreas ACCARDO Tel: +43 1 58 03 06 33 - Fax: +43 1 58 03 06 93 [email protected] • http://www.fra.europa.eu/ • fRONTEX, European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Members States of the European Union Rondo Onz 1, 00-124 Warsaw, Poland Tel. (48 22) 544 9500 - Fax. (48 22) 544 95 01 [email protected] • www.frontex.europa.eu • GSA, European GNSS Supervisory Authority Rue de la Loi 56, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 (0) 2 297 16 16, Fax: + 32 (0)2 296 72 38 [email protected] • www.gsa.europa.eu • OHIM, Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) Avenida de Europa 4, E-03008 Alicante, Spain Tel: +34 965 139 100 - Fax: +34 965 139 173 Sabina VEIE Tel: +34 965 13 90 75 - Fax: +34 965 13 13 44 [email protected] • www.oami.europa.eu

Reporting Brussels P.71 International organisations • African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Av. Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 743 06 00 - Fax: +32 (0)2 735 55 73 [email protected] Press contact - Robert IROGA Tel: +32 (0)2 743 06 17 [email protected] • www.acpsec.org • Council of Europe Brussels Office 85, Avenue des Nerviens, B-1040, Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 230 41 70 • Strasbourg Office Avenue de l’Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France Tel: +33 (0)3 884 12560 Director of Communication - Daniel HOLTGEN Tel: +33(0)3 902 15020 [email protected] Secretary General, Spokesperson - Flemming KJERSCHOW Tel: +33 (0) 3 884 13481 [email protected] • www.coe.int • European Court of Human Rights Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France Tel: +33 (0)3 902 14208 - Fax: +33(0)3 884 12730 Tracey TURNER-TRETZ Tel: +33 3 88 41 35 30 [email protected] • [email protected] ww.echr.coe.int • European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Rue Joseph II, 12/16, B-1000 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 286 17 11 [email protected]

P.72 Reporting Brussels

Elin EJERKEBO Tel: +32 (0)2 286 17 19 - Fax: +32 (0)2 286 17 50 [email protected] • www.efta.int • International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Churchillplein 1 - NL-2517 JW The Hague, Netherlands Tel: +31 (0)70 512 8752, 5343, 5356 - Fax: +31 (0)70 512 5355 Nermina JELACIC Tel: +31 (0)70 512 5066 [email protected] • www.icty.org • NATO Blvd Leopold III, B-1110 Brussels NATO spokesperson - Oana LUNGESCU Deputy spokesperson - Carmen ROMERO Tel: +32 (0)2 707 41 11 [email protected] • www.nato.int • United Nations - Information Office United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels) - Rue de la Loi 155, Block C2, 1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 788 84 84 - Fax: +32 (0)2 788 84 85 Jean-Luc ONCKELINX Tel: +32 (0)2 788 84 84 [email protected] • www.un.org • United Nations (UN agencies) UN Information Centre for the Benelux Countries and the EU Rue Montoyer 14, B-1000 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 503 35 72 - Fax: +32 (0)2 503 46 24 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.73 Lobby groups & NGOs Lobby groups It can seem at times that almost everyone in Brussels is lobbying for or against something. The lobbying industry is one of the city’s fastest growing sectors, with a virtual explosion of lobbying and consultancy firms with an estimated 15,000 lobbyists. Besides hosting receptions for EU professionals, the bigger lobbying companies sponsor many of the public debates and exhibitions that make Brussels such a stimulating place to be for reporters. However their communications should always be checked against other sources. A full list of lobby firms and political consultancies can be found in the European Public Affairs Directory (available fromwww.dodonline.co.uk ) and in the EU stakeholder directory (http://www.stakeholder.eu/).

• Association of European Airlines (AEA) Avenue Louise 350, B-1050 Brussels - Tel: +32 (0)2 639 89 89 [email protected] • www.aea.be • Business Europe Avenue de Cortenbergh, 168, B-1000 Brussels - Tel: +32 (0)2 237 65 11 [email protected] Senior adviser - Peter VERTESSY Tel: +32(0)2 237 65 03 email • www.businesseurope.eu • Committee of Agricultural Org. in the European Union (COPA) Rue de Trèves, 61, B-1040 Brussels - Tel: +32 (0)2 287 27 11 [email protected] Press officer - Amanda CHEESLEY [email protected] • www.copa-cogeca.be

P.74 Reporting Brussels • The Community of European Railways (CER) 53 Avenue des Arts, B-1000 Bruxelles Tel: 32 (0)2 213 08 70 - Fax: +32 (0)2 512 52 31 Press and Communications manager - Eva BÖCKLE Tel: +32 (0)2 213 08 90 - Fax: +32 (0)2 512 52 31 [email protected] • www.cer.be • Eurochambres Chamber House – Avenue des Arts 19, B-1040 Brussels - Tel +32 (0) 2 282 08 50 Press officer - Guendalina COMINOTTI [email protected] • www.eurochambres.eu • European Association of Car Producers (ACEA) Rue des Nerviens 85, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 738 73 45 - M: +32 (0)485 886 647 [email protected] Head of Communications - Sigrid DE VRIES [email protected] • www.acea.be • European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) Avenue E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 6, B-1160 Brussels - Tel: +32 (0)2 676 73 98 [email protected] Press relations Manager - James PIEPER [email protected] • www.cefic.org • Eurocontrol (European Organisation for the Safety of Air navigation) Rue de la Fusée 96, B-1130 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 729 35 01 - Fax: +32 (0)2 729 91 00 [email protected] Press Officers - Kyla EVANS [email protected] Lucia PASQUINI [email protected] • www.eurocontrol.int

Reporting Brussels P.75 • The European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC) Ave. de Tervuren 36, bte 4, B-1040 Brussels, Head of Communications - Johannes KLEIS - Tel: +32 (0)2 789 24 01 [email protected] • www.beuc.org • The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) Tassel House, Paul-Emile JANSON 6, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 506 89 89 Media Contact - Philip SPRINGUEL [email protected] • European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5, B-1210 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 224 04 11 [email protected] Head of Communications - Patricia GRILLO www.etuc.org • European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 box 4, B-1210 Brussels Tel: + 32(0)2 224 04 70 - Fax: + 32(0) 2 224 05 02 [email protected] Information officer - Denis GREGOIRE • European Women’s Lobby 18, Rue Hydraulique, B-1210 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 217 90 20 - Fax +32 (0)2 219 84 51 [email protected] Secretary general - Myria VASSILIADOU [email protected] • www.womenlobby.org

P.76 Reporting Brussels NGOs Many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are active in Brussels. A selection can be found below:

• Amnesty International European Union Office, Rue de Trèves 35, Boite 3, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 502 14 99 www.amnesty.eu • Human Rights Watch Avenue des Gaulois, 7, B-1040 Brussels - Tel: +32 (0)2 732 20 09 [email protected] • [email protected] • www.hrw.org • Platform of European Social NGOs Square de Meeûs 18, B-1050 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 511 37 14 - Fax: +32 (0)2 511 19 09 [email protected] • www.socialplatform.org • European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) Avenue de la Toison d’Or 77, 4th floor, B-1060 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 548 04 90 [email protected] • www.ecas.org • Greenpeace EU Rue Belliard 199, B-1040 Brussels - Tel: +32 (0)2 274 19 00 [email protected] • www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit • Friends of the Earth Mundo-b Building, Rue d’Edimbourg 26, B-1050 Brussels Tel: + 32 (0)2 893 10 10 - Fax: +32 (0)2 893 10 35 [email protected] • www.foeeurope.org • WWF European Policy Office Avenue de Tervuren 168, B20, B-1150 Brussels - Tel: +32 (0)2 743 88 00 www.panda.org • http://www.wwf.be

Reporting Brussels P.77 Think Tanks Originally imported into Brussels from countries such as the United States and Britain, think tanks have expanded in number over recent years. They can be a godsend to EU journalists, because their policy experts really do know their stuff. But a word of caution: many Brussels-based ones are funded by the European institutions, making objectivity difficult.

• Bruegel A very authoritative centre for research, Bruegel deals mainly with economic and financial issues. It organises talks and debates and publishes papers on these subjects. Rue de la Charité 33 – 1210 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 227 42 70 - Fax: +32 (0)2 227 42 10 [email protected] • www.bruegel.org • Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) The most established and establishment of the Brussels-based think thanks CEPS has a reputation for being somewhat academic. But its researchers are recognised experts in their fields. Place du Congrès 1, B-1000 Brussels, Tel: +32 (0)2 229 39 11 [email protected] • www.ceps.be • Centre for European Reform A campaigning London-based think-tank advocating EU reform, the CER is one of the most respected voices on EU affairs. Run by former Economist corres- pondent Charles Grant, it is an invaluable source of news and views on Europe. Its publications are always timely and provocative and are free for journalists 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3RX, UK Tel: + 44 20 7233 1199 - Fax: +44 20 7233 1117 [email protected] • www.cer.org.uk

P.78 Reporting Brussels • Centre for the New Europe Free-market, ‘liberal’ think tank specialising in health-care issues. Rue de Luxembourg 23, Bte 1, B-1000 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 506 40 00 [email protected] • www.cne.org • European Policy Centre (EPC) The EPC has a solid reputation among the Brussels policy elite. When world leaders come to town, they often speak at EPC conferences and breakfast mee- tings. It publishes the European public policy journal ‘Challenge Europe’. Résidence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 231 03 40 - Fax: +32 (0) 2 231 07 04 [email protected] • www.epc.eu • fRIENDS of Europe Housed in the Solvay Library in Parc Leopold, Friends of Europe is very much the think tank for Europe’s political and business elite. It attracts top-notch speakers to its conferences. It also publishes a journal on EU affairs, ‘Europe’s World’, three times a year and hosts the Security and Defence Agenda conference series on security issues. Bibliothèque Solvay, Parc Léopold, Rue Belliard 137, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 737 91 45 - Fax: +32 (0)2 738 75 97 [email protected] • www.friendofeurope.org • German Marshall Fund of the United States The premier source of information on transatlantic relations in Brussels, the GMF has attracted some big-name speakers in its short time in the EU capital. It also has an in-house team of policy experts on issues such as trade and security. Résidence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155 Westraat, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: +32(0)2 238 52 83 - Fax: +32 (0)2 238 52 99 [email protected] • www.gmfus.org/template/index.cfm

Reporting Brussels P.79 • The Lisbon Council A think tank campaigning for economic reform in Europe. It provides lively, critical and quotable feed-back on the EU’s attempts to become the most competitive economy in the world. International Press Centre, Résidence Palace, Block C, 155 Rue de la Loi B-1040 Brussels. Tel +32 (0)2 647 95 75 - Fax: +32 (0)2 640 98 28 [email protected] • www.lisboncouncil.net • Notre Europe Think tank set up by former European Commission President Jacques Delors to promote further EU integration. 19 Rue de Milan, 75009 Paris, France Tel: +33 1 44 58 97 97 - Fax: +33 1 44 58 97 99 Info @notre-europe.eu • www.notre-europe.eu

Information Sources - Brussels-based media: • European Voice (www.european-voice.com) A weekly newspaper seeking to inform and influence Brussels’ policymakers. Although it includes limited hard news, the paper is useful reading for journalists who aim to keep their finger on the EU’s pulse. Top stories on the website are free, but some content is for subscribers only. • Europolitics/Europolitique (www.europolitics.info) A daily newsletter and web publication covering EU affairs in detail. Somewhat dry in style, it is a good comprehensive one-stop-shop for news in French and English about the Union. It also publishes specialised dossiers on selected themes, such as the environment, enlargement, technology, transport, and energy and periodical reports on specific topical issues. Available by subscription only.

P.80 Reporting Brussels • Agence Europe (www.agenceeurope.com) Daily update on EU news. Although written in a bureaucratic style, it covers everything – from the humblest NGO press release to European Councils. In French and English. Available by subscription only. • Parliament Magazine (www.theparliament.com/EN/Magazine) Fortnightly magazine about EU affairs, focusing largely on the activities of the European Parliament. • New Europe (www.neurope.eu) Weekly newspaper with political and business news largely compiled from press agency material.

Web-based news www.euobserver.com Euobserver provides a relatively balanced coverage of EU affairs and often manages to scoop major news outlets. Very much an insiders’ source, Euobserver sends out a twice-daily news alert by e-mail, has a fee-paying daily press review and useful hypertext links to other sites and articles. www.euractiv.com Partly funded by the European Commission and big business, Euractiv’s coverage is somewhat uncritical. However, it provides a good roundup of much Brussels news, links to other sites and background information. www.eubusiness.com Most of the news stories are for subscribers only. However, AFP-sourced breaking news is free-of-charge. It also sends out a free weekly newsletter, Eubusiness week. www.bbc.co.uk/news Regularly updated and free of charge, the BBC News website is the most extensive in the world. It contains a Europe section with a daily European press review.

Reporting Brussels P.81 European wide news Channels Euronews (www.euronews.net) is the only pan-European news station regularly broadcasting news reports and features about the EU. Its half- hourly news bulletin has comprehensive coverage of European affairs and was completely renewed in mid-2008. It is managed by some of the main European public broadcasting TV authorities and receives European Commission funding. Its headquarters are in Lyon, France.

Europe by Satellite • http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs Covers all main European Union events, daily briefings and provides audio- visual material for media. • www.natochannel.tv NATO’s own television channel dedicated to NATO events and briefings. • www.europarltv.europa.eu The European Parliament has a TV channel and the main political groups also have also their own, making four in total.

P.82 Reporting Brussels ACCREDITATION Accreditation to the EU Journalists who want regular access to the EU institutions need to be accredited by the relevant service. The Commission and Parliament generally demand a letter of accreditation from the chief editor in the headquarters of the journalist’s media (a letter from their Brussels office may not suffice), photocopies of identification documents and your national press card. Freelancers should obtain a letter specifying that they collaborate, even if only occasionally, with specific media. Occasional visitors Journalists who work in Brussels for a short time only, or only visit the EU institutions occasionally, can access the Commission press room by contacting the ‘press room’ team by fax: +32 (0)2 299 47 70 or by e-mail: [email protected] If possible, 24 hours notice is required. Appointments may be made to see Commission spokespersons. Permanent accreditation The European Commission issues an inter-institutional accreditation card for Directorate-General (DG) Press and the press room of the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. The card is valid for one year and is renewable. This provides access to the press areas of the three institutions and their restaurants, with more freedom to move around the European Parliament both in Brussels and Strasbourg. It also allows the press to enter other EU bodies such as the EESC and CoR.

• Contact Pier Soldati at the accreditation desk at the European Commission. Tel: +32 (0)2 299 01 70 - Fax: +32 (0)2 299 47 70 [email protected]

Reporting Brussels P.83 Documents needed: • accreditation letter from the editor-in-chief (from the HQ of the media) • passport or, for EU nationals, identity card • national press card • proof of residence in Belgium • two passport photographs Even if you ask the Commission for a common accreditation to the three institutions, you are advised to give your e-mail address to both the Parliament and the Council, in order to receive press releases. European Parliament For accreditation to the European Parliament only or for temporary accre- ditation, Tel: +32 (0)2 284 20 23, address: Rue Wiertz, B-1047 Brussels. Documents needed: • national press card (or copy) • passport or ID card (or copy) • one passport photograph Council The Council of the EU admits journalists accredited to the other EU institutions only to the press area and the restaurant. To gain access to other areas one must be accompanied by a member of staff. Journalists who are not accredited should send a request by fax: +32 (0)2 285 85 41 or by e-mail: [email protected] to the Council Press Centre, with copies of the following documents: • national press card • passport or ID card • one passport photograph

P.84 Reporting Brussels Presidency and Summits Journalists requiring access to a European Council Summit and informal meetings arranged by the EU Presidency must be accredited directly with the EU Presidency Accreditation Service. For accreditation to European Council Summits held in Brussels you will have to consult the rotating presidency website and fill online forms with your details and those of your media. A special pass for each summit will be then issued which journalists must collect personally. (Example: www.eu2011.hu for the Hungarian Presidency) NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Contact the Press Section http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_47798.htm?mode=pressrelease Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 38 Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57 E-mail: [email protected] Address: Boulevard Léopold III, B-1110 Brussels. Documents needed for permanent accreditation: • accreditation letter from your editor-in-chief • passport • national press card • press pass issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and two passport photographs You can also be accredited for specific NATO events in which case you have to bring your national press card and passport for daily accreditation.

Reporting Brussels P.85 Accreditation to Belgian authorities Obtained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This procedure can take several months. The accreditation document allows entry into all Belgian institutions. 1) Temporary press card (valid for six months) Contact the Press Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange an appointment with: Frida Heremans or Veerle Van Beveren Tel: +32 (0)2 501 80 68 – Tel: +32 (0)2 501 84 07 - Fax: +32 (0)2 513 25 46 E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Address: Rue des Petits Carmes 15, B-1000 Brussels The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a mailing list. You can register at: www.diplomatie.be The Press Department will want to see your: • passport (+ type D visa) or, for nationals of an EU country, your ID card • accreditation document proving that you are appointed as a correspondent to Belgium • national press card • two passport photographs The temporary press pass is generally valid for six months. It can be renewed when you have applied for registration in your ‘commune’ (the Belgian local authority) and for a permanent press card at API/IPA, the Association de la Presse Internationale/International Press Association. 2) Permanent Press Card The permanent press card valid for five years is issued by API/IPA, the International Press Association. Contact Martine Joos from 09.00 to 13.00, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please call for an appointment. • Tel: +32 (0)2 235 22 24, address: Résidence Palace, block C/2223, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels, e-mail: [email protected].

P.86 Reporting Brussels

Documents needed • Declaration from your Director/Editor-in-Chief certifying that you are ap- pointed as a correspondent in Belgium and a document proving that you have been working as a journalist for at least two years (for freelancers, proof of remuneration in the last two years must be produced). • copy of the temporary press pass • copy of the residence certificate delivered by your ‘commune’ • copy of the birth certificate from your country/consulate or a copy of your passport • two passport photographs Press Card benefits: • Members of API/IPA and of the Belgian journalists’ unions who have ac- quired a specific coupon for Belgian railways (SNCB/NMBS) can travel free in second class on SNCB/NMBS lines within Belgium, and enjoy reductions or free travel on buses and tramways of De Lijn and TEC. No reductions are provided for journalists on international trains such as Thalys, Eurostar, ICE, etc. • The press card provides up to 24-hours free parking at Brussels-National Airport, Zaventem, but you must pay any outstanding amount at the man- ned ticket office before picking up your vehicle. • API/IPA issues parking permits to press card holders in the International Press Centre, Résidence Palace in Brussels, close to the EU institutions. • The press card also entitles the holder to a 50% reduction on business fares on Brussels Airlines flights. • API/IPA issues a special card for journalists working, but not resident in Belgium.

Reporting Brussels P.87 Press Club Brussels Europe Card All journalists in Brussels can have access to the “Press Club Brussels Europe”, a new facility for journalists launched with the support of the Brussels Capital Region. The Press Club Brussels Europe is located in the European Quarter at 95 Rue Froissart, 1040 Brussels, and offers journalists a lounge area and space for meetings and debates (www.brusselspressclub.eu). Membership is open to journalists of all nationalities working in Brussels for international or Belgian media and to foreign journalists temporarily visiting the city. The Press Club Brussels Europe is a member of the World Press Club Association.

International Press Card The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issues an international press card for members of IFJ affiliates. While this card is widely recognised and useful in many countries, it does not normally give any added benefits to journalists working in Belgium.

Accreditation refused? If you are refused journalist accreditation, which is fairly rare, contact API/ IPA in Brussels for assistance. In general, objections tend to come from the Belgian authorities. The Commission might object only if it has doubts about the media you work for or, more commonly, believes that you do not require regular access to the institution either because you do not live in Belgium or only enter it infrequently. Another reason for refusing accreditation might be the fact that the special committee in charge of vetting requests believes that the applicant is more a lobbyist than a journalist. In such circumstances, bona fide journalists can still access the press facilities by signing a visitor’s register at reception and presenting a press card and/or passport. API/IPA tries to make sure the same criteria are applied at both the European and Belgian levels. Its representatives are involved in the accreditation processes.

P.88 Reporting Brussels Tax Guide Basic principles Foreign journalists should be aware of a certain number of basic principles as far as taxes are concerned. Most tax treaties state that: • The income derived from professional activity is taxable in the country where this activity is performed. • A distinction then has to be made between: 1. An employment contract The duration of the activity in the country and the location of the salary char- ge should be contemplated: a. If the employee is seconded in the country for a period or several periods of in total less than 183 days in a calendar year, AND if his salary charge is borne by an employer who is not established in Belgium, this employee remains taxable in the country where his employer is located. b. If the stay in Belgium exceeds the limit of 183 days per calendar year, the employee is taxable in Belgium. 2. A freelance activity If the journalist performs a freelance activity, his income will be taxable in the country where he has a fixed base from where he is working and the extent that this activity is performed through this fixed base. Foreign journalists employed by a foreign news organisation may benefit from a special tax regime known as the “expatriate status”. Please note that this regime is not available to freelance journalists and press correspondents.

Expatriate status Companies eligible In order to benefit from this special tax regime, the employer must: • be a commercial or industrial multinational company • have a subsidiary branch or a permanent establishment in Belgium

Reporting Brussels P.89 Journalists eligible Journalists who can apply for this special tax regime are those who: • possess foreign nationality • perform functions as employees which require special knowledge and responsibilities • live in Belgium because: a. they have been seconded by foreign companies to Belgium in order to work there temporarily b. they have been seconded to Belgium by foreign companies that form part of an international group c. they have been recruited directly from abroad by a Belgian company, a subsidiary of a foreign company or by a Belgian company that forms part of an international group. Journalists must also prove that they have maintained in their home country the centre of their economic interest. If they have moved with their family, Belgium will be considered their economic centre, thus they will not be eligible.

Tax Benefits of the “Expatriate Status” During their stay in Belgium, journalists who can benefit from this special system are considered as non-resident, which implies that they are only taxable on their Belgian source of income and not on the remuneration relating to activities exercised outside Belgium. In order to calculate this “travel exclusion”, certain rules apply, such as one that says that the day of departure does not count as a day outside Belgium. However a one-day trip outside Belgium can be counted! The employee will have to bring evidence of the real number of days spent outside Belgium and of the business character of these days. The travel exclusion percentage is the result of the number of working days spent abroad, divided by the total number of working days. The total number of working days will be equal to 365 days, minus some 105 Saturdays and Sundays, minus 10 Belgian bank holidays, thus more or less 230 days on a yearly basis.

P.90 Reporting Brussels Consequently under this special tax regime, the taxable basis will be as follows: gross salary, minus social security contributions paid in Belgium or in the country of origin minus tax-free allowances up to a maximum of 11,155 € = reduced taxable basis. Deduct the travel exclusion percentage on the reduced taxable basis to work out the taxable basis. On this reduced taxable basis, normal Belgian tax rates apply.

Journalists are also entitled to receive non-taxable allowances which are deemed to cover the difference in cost-of-living, housing costs and tax equalisation between Belgium and their home country. Procedure • This special tax regime must be requested by the employer and by the employee, and an application has to be prepared. • The application has to be sent within six months, starting from the begin- ning of the activities in Belgium, to the Tax Inspector for non-residents:

Bureau Central de taxation Bruxelles Etranger, North Galaxy Tour B - 7e étage - Boulevard du Roi Albert II 33/32, 1030 Bruxelles Tel: +32 (0)2 572 57 57 Email: [email protected]

If the application is made after this due date, the journalist will perhaps get the expatriate status, but only as from the year which will follow the request.

• This file, introduced by the employer must establish that the company qualifies and that the employees fulfil the requested conditions (see above). • The application must also give details of the salary and tax free allowances and an estimate of the travel exclusion. It must thus show that the benefit of the system goes to the employer. • Acceptance (or refusal) of the application will be sent by the tax authorities after several months by registered post to the employer.

Reporting Brussels P.91 • If the expatriate status is granted, the employee will have to file a non- resident tax form each year. • If it is not granted, the employee has to pay taxes on the basis of the total yearly salary earned. All the above applies to general cases. For individual cases, contact the Centre of Administration at: +32 (0)2 572 57 57

Special tax status for freelancers working in Belgium Belgium has a favourable tax system for income deriving from author’s rights. For incomes up to 51,920 €, 15% will be taxable. However, half of the first 13,840 € is deemed as “professional costs”, and is thus free from any tax. The other half of this amount is taxed at 15%. The portion between 13,840 and 27,690 € has a 25% deduction for agreed costs, meaning that 75 % of this portion will be taxed at 15%. The remainder, between 27,690 and 51,920 €, has no agreed costs rate, thus it will be taxed at 15%. For incomes above 51,920 €, the income will be taxed as a normal professional income with tax rates between 25 and 50%. The dilemma: if you receive 1,000 € from a publisher for an article you wrote, how much of it should be considered a fee for your work and how much can be deemed a payment for your author’s rights (and thus favourably taxed)? Belgian publishers saw this change as a great opportunity for writers and told their freelancers that the entire fee would be paid as author’s rights beginning in 2009. The law states that the organisation that pays the author’s rights has to withdraw the 15% automatically and directly pay the Belgian tax authorities. In other words, authors no longer have to mention that income (“roerend inkomen” in Dutch, “revenus mobiliers” in French) on their tax form, as it has already been taxed “at source”. Since 2009, Belgian publishers have been withdrawing the 15% from the payment owed to their freelancers, ultimately a considerable increase in the net income of freelance writers.

P.92 Reporting Brussels However, the Belgian Journalists Association does not believe that the tax change will last, since it would result in a drastic decrease in overall tax income for the Belgian state and social security organisations in the long run. In January 2010, the Flemish Journalists Organisation (VVJ) met representatives from daily newspapers to look at what might be a sounder ratio between professional incomes (the fee for the work) and “roerend inkomen/revenus mobiliers” (in this case meaning author’s rights). Both parties agreed that a 70-30 proportion might be permanently accepted by tax authorities and social security organisations. The proportion would mean that for every 1,000 € earned, 700 € would be “normally” taxed, while the remaining 300 € would be (favourably) taxed as author’s rights. However, at the time of publication, analyst associations and publishers have not yet reached an agreement with the tax authorities, thus this ratio may not be accepted. Of course, the above information applies to the income for a first publication right. Additional income from the resale of an article or a video by the editing or broadcasting company can be considered as 100% author’s rights. This also applies to the author’s rights an employee may receive separately from his/ her fixed salary. When formally considered author’s rights, the favourable tax system is applicable. Foreign freelancers taxable in Belgium, either working in Belgium for a foreign publishing company or a broadcasting company, might see this new 70-30 ratio as a guideline for filling their tax form. However, journalist associations and publishers have not yet reached an agreement with the tax authorities so this ratio might not eventually be accepted. One thing is certain however: the tax authorities will not accept you counting your total fee as author’s rights.

More information for non-residents can be found on the Belgian Federal Public Service’s website. Articles on general rules for taxation of foreigners in Belgium can be found on www.expatica.com.

Reporting Brussels P.93 Appendix 1 EU jargon-buster Jargon is a disease that afflicts the EU like all big bureaucracies. One of the biggest problems in reporting what happens in Brussels is translating this “eurospeak” into a language that readers and viewers can understand. Often this involves cutting corners and sacrificing some precision for intelligibility, but that’s one of the regular compromises Brussels journalists have to make to keep their readers informed. The EU, via its EU website, has made a stab at drafting a ‘plain language guide to Brussels jargon’ (www.europa.eu/abc/eurojargon/index_en.htm). However, the occasionally long-winded explanations are not lively enough for journalists to use in 500-600 word articles or one-minute news bulletins. The following is an attempt at a journalists’ EU lexicon. Often, institutions have been replaced by people, as readers tend to relate more to the latter than the former.

Acquis communautaire EU’s body of law Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) European Liberals, Liberal MEPs Cabinet private office Candidate countries EU applicants, would-be members Chef de cabinet head of office, chief of staff Co-decision jointly decided by MEPs and EU governments Cohesion Fund Aid for the EU’s poorest countries College of Commissioners EU commissioners Communication policy paper Conciliation Committee head-to-head talks between MEPs and EU governments COREPER EU ambassadors Council of the EU EU governments/ministers Directive/Regulation EU law/regulation Directorate General Commission department

P.94 Reporting Brussels

Ecofin EU finance ministers Enhanced cooperation pick and choose/à la carte Europe EU treaty EU rulebook/charter Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) Euro-sceptics European Commission EU executive, EU officials/civil servants, Eurocrats European Commissioner for Trade EU trade chief/top official European Council EU summit, EU leaders/heads of state European Court of Justice EU court, EU judges European Parliament EU assembly, Members of the European Parliament, MEPs European People’s Party/European Democrats (EPP/ED) centre-right MEPs, Christian Democrats European United Left/ Nordic Green Left (EUL/NGL) far-left MEPs Europol EU’s law enforcement agency Eurostat the EU’s statistical arm Fonctionnaire EU official General Affairs Council EU foreign ministers Green paper discussion paper Greens/ European Free Alliance European/EU greens Intergovernmental Conference/IGC EU treaty talks JAI/JHA ministerial Justice and interior/justice and home affairs ministers Member State EU country, state MEPs Euro-deputies, EU legislators/lawmakers, Euro-MPs OLAF EU’s anti-fraud office Permanent Representation Embassy to the EU Plenary session full meeting of the European Parliament Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) European Socialists, EU centre-left Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) Majority Voting Stagiaire trainee, intern

Reporting Brussels P.95 Appendix 2 Media organisations in Brussels • API/IPA (Association de la Presse Internat./Internat. Press Association) Representing international journalists in Brussels, API/IPA is an independent association of journalists run by journalists. It is not financed by any EU institution. API membership currently costs €100 a year for full-time journalists and €50 for freelancers and retired active press. The association’s main aim is to represent journalists in their professional dealings with the EU institutions and help resolve any problems that may arise between them. • Résidence Palace, block C/2223, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 22 24 - www.api-ipa.eu • [email protected] • European Journalism Centre The EJC is an independent, non-profit, mid-career training centre founded in 1992 in Maastricht. It aims to promote the highest standards in journalism. Relying on its extensive network of journalism trainers, experts and media specialists, the EJC offers short, intensive seminars for journalists across Europe and beyond. It organises activities in the main European languages in an increasing number of locations. • Brussels office: Résidence Palace, block C/3, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 23 44 - www.ejc.net Maastricht office, Avenue Ceramique 50, NL-6221 KV Maastricht, Netherlands • Résidence Palace International Press Centre With around 1,000 foreign journalists working in Brussels at any given time, there was a real need for a fully equipped press centre. Therefore, in July 2001 the Belgian federal government decided to set up an international press centre. The Résidence Palace International Press Centre is a conference venue for journalists, policymakers, researchers and communications experts. It has rental facilities for meetings and a press working area. • Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 21 11 - www.presscenter.org • [email protected]

P.96 Reporting Brussels • Journalists @ Your Service Founded in 2001, J@YS is a help centre and information hub for journalists in Brussels. It is run by a small group of journalists representing all the major press associations present in Brussels • Résidence Palace, block C/2252, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels www.brusselsreporter.eu • [email protected] For telephone contacts, please ring +32 (0)2 235 23 44 • International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) The IFJ is the world’s largest organisation of journalists. First established in 1926, it was relaunched in 1946 and again, in its present form, in 1952. Today, the Federation represents around 600,000 members in over 100 countries. • Résidence Palace, block C/2, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 22 00 - www.ifj.org • [email protected] • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) The EFJ is the European group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Its members are unions or associations of journalists, making the EFJ Europe’s largest organisation of journalists representing about 250,000 journalists in over 30 countries. • Résidence Palace, block C/2, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 22 00 - http://europe.ifj.org • [email protected] • Vlaamse Vereniging van Journalisten (VVJ) The VVJ is the Flemish ‘wing’ of the Belgian association of professional journalists. It defends the rights and interests of about 2,600 journalists, mostly working for Belgian Dutch-speaking media. Résidence Palace, block C/2, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 22 70 - www.journalist.be • [email protected] • Association des Journalistes Professionnels (AGJPB) The General Association for Professional Journalists in Belgium includes the French- speaking association AJP (Association des Journalistes professionnels) and the Dutch-speaking association (VVJ – Vlaamse Vereniging van Journalisten).

Reporting Brussels P.97 The AJP, VVJ and AGJPB work together to defend the rights of Belgian professional journalists and to promote high quality information. • Résidence Palace, block C/2, Rue de la Loi 155, B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 235 22 60 - www.agjpb.be/ajp • [email protected] • National Union of Journalists (NUJ) The NUJ is an active, campaigning organisation seeking to improve the pay and conditions of its members in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and working to protect and promote media freedom, professionalism and ethical standards in all media. • Headland House, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP, UK Tel: +44 20 7278 7916 - Fax: +44 20 7837 8143 - [email protected] NUJ in Brussels: www.nujcec.org/brussels/?page_id=28 • Association of European Journalists (AEJ) Across Europe, the AEJ brings together individual journalists through their membership of the national sections. It was created in 1962 in the then six EEC countries and founded by 70 journalists, convinced of the need for democratic European integration and of the potential for journalism to promote European harmony. • 145, Avenue Baron Albert d’Huart, B-1950 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 646 78 65 - www.aej.org/index.html • Press Club Brussels Europe Although not a media organisation itself, the Press Club Brussels is a newly created meeting place for Belgian and international journalists offering a series of events and cultural activities relevant to the media working in Brussels. It is a member of the World Press Club Association. Areas within the club can be hired by members for their own events. • 95 Rue Froissart, 1040 Brussels. - Tel: + 32 (0)2 201 37 05 www.brusselspressclub.eu • [email protected]

P.98 Reporting Brussels PERSONAL NOTES

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