Permanent accreditation

Contact

Before visiting the accreditation office, please register online.

European Commission's accreditation office
Berlaymont building
Rue de la Loi 200/Wetstraat 200
B-1040 Brussels

Contact person:
Silvana RIVA
Berl -1/PRE6
Tel.: +32.2 (02)29 50086
Fax: +32.2 (02)29 94770
Mail: COMM-PRESSROOM-TEAM

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 from 28/03 to 08/04/2013, and during the first two weeks of August.

Media organisations

To be recognised, they must:

• Have (or belong to a group with) a statute showing that one of their main objectives is to provide information on the activities of the EU and its institutions. Where necessary, this can be proved by accounting data showing the organisation's respective sources of income.
• Be editorially independent and a commercial organisation with no distribution restrictions.
• Be open about how and by whom they are financed.
• Prove that any online material they publish is updated at least once a week and includes EU news.

Documents to provide

To be accredited as a journalist, you go to the European Commission's accreditation office with the following documents:

About your organisation

1 - A recent letter (original, not copy) from the editor-in-chief or director of the organisation you work for, stating that it is a commercial organisation not subject to any distribution restrictions. The periodicity of the publication must be added. In general, daily or weekly publications will be taken into account. Monthly medias will also be taken into account provided they regularly cover European affairs. You may also have to supply a copy of the company's articles of association. Public and semi-public audiovisual media will not be required to prove their commercial nature.

About you

2 - A dated letter requesting accreditation (original, not copy) signed by the editor-in-chief or director of the organisation you work for, certifying that journalism is your main source of income or that you are a freelance journalist, that you will mainly cover European affairs and will therefore need frequent access to the press facilities of the Commission, Council and Parliament.

You must provide proof of your status:

• Staff journalists
  • a written certificate from your editor-in-chief or director
  • additional proof such as a reference to your profession in an official document, or a press card issued in the country where you are based.
• Freelance journalists
  • proof of publication (articles and contributions)
  • proof of payment for regular and sustained journalistic work (that clearly shows this is not a cover for other work)
  • additional proof such as a reference to your profession in an official document, or a press card issued in the country where you are based.

3 - Proof that your main or secondary residence is in or near Brussels (copy of your identity card or equivalent, or copy of certificate of registration in the commune where you live, or rental contract for accommodation).

4 - If you are an EU national, your identity card or passport from an EU member country. If you are not an EU national, your passport from your country of origin.

5 - One passport photo.

Technical media professionals

Documents to provide

To be accredited as a photographer, cameraman, sound engineer or producer, you go to the European Commission's accreditation office with the following documents:

• A dated letter requesting accreditation (original, not copy), signed by the editor-in-chief or director of the organisation you work for, certifying that you work full-time or freelance in one of those professions, that you regularly cover European affairs and will therefore need frequent access to the press facilities of the European Commission (as well as the Council of the EU of the European Union and the European Parliament).
• If you work freelance, you must also provide proof of your activities in one of those professions and proof of payment for regular and sustained work (that clearly shows this is not a cover for other work).
• Proof that your main or secondary residence is in or near Brussels (copy of your identity card or equivalent, or copy of certificate of registration in the commune where you live, or rental contract for accommodation).
• 1 passport photo
• These supporting documents may be copies, not originals.
• To be accredited as a technical media professional, you do not need to have a press card.

How accreditation is granted

The accreditation advisory committee meets regularly to assess each request on the basis of the documents submitted. It verifies their authenticity and may ask you to provide additional documents.

The committee may also review and revoke accreditation at any time. For this purpose, you may be asked to provide up-to-date information and proof of income.

Accreditation is granted by DG Communication on the basis of the advisory committee's decision.

DG Communication may issue temporary access cards pending a meeting of the advisory committee. Such cards are issued for a limited period, indicated on the card itself.

If you are refused accreditation, you may appeal to the appeal committee, made up of the Directors-General of DG Communication (Commission – committee chair), DG F (Council) and DG INFO (Parliament) and the president of the IPA.

The appeal committee meets twice a year. Pending your appeal, the accreditation committee may grant you temporary accreditation.

Revoking accreditation

The committee reserves the right to revoke the press card of any holder responsible for behaviour that disturbs the smooth proceedings in press meetings organised by the EU institutions.

First the incident will be examined thoroughly by the accreditation committee. The holder will be informed by letter of the date of the committee meeting and entitled to attend (accompanied by a person of their choice) to defend themself.

They (and their professional association) will be informed of the committee's decision and its reasons, and may appeal to the appeal committee.