European Parliament
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. The European Parliament has a well-equipped press room both in Brussels and Strasbourg that can be used by reporters.
Its plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg, however, the bulk of the EP’s activities and all the committee meetings take place in Brussels. Additionally, mini-sessions are held in Brussels at regular intervals (Wednesday afternoons and Thursdays only)
The Parliament’s press service is at times patchy. Live broadcasts of most plenary sessions on EbS (Europe by Satellite) have made the task of covering the assembly easier. There are also tentative plans to provide live web-streaming of committee meetings for journalists interested in covering legislation in depth.
The creation of its own (four) television channels is designed to increase information and communication regarding the Parliament’s activities. While journalists’ organisations have welcomed efforts to increase the information available, they have also raised concerns about the fact that the Parliament has begun producing ‘ready-made’ programmes in competition with traditional media, while not offering sufficient guarantees on editorial independence.
The Parliament has no daily briefing but it does organise a pre-session press conference in its Brussels headquarters at 11.00 on the Friday before the monthly meetings in Strasbourg. There is also a final briefing half an hour before the start of the Strasbourg session. Furthermore, there is a ‘last-minute’ press briefing 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 they sit on can be found by visiting the Parliament’s website. Journalists often forget that MEPs are their own best spokespeople. Some are highly knowledgeable, most are able to speak in sound bites and all are desperate to be quoted on the record. However, if you cannot get a response from a politician, try one of the Parliament’s press officers. They are an excellent source if you need clarification on the details of legislation. The MEPs’ assistants can provide useful background material and information as well.
For big-picture issues, contact 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 responsible for various EP committees.
Spokesperson of the EP President: Robert GOLÁNSKI
Tel: +32 (0)2 284 16 01
Email: robert.golanksi@europarl.europa.eu
Press officer of the EP President: Richard FREEMAN
Tel: +32 (0)2 284 14 48
Email: richard.freeman@europarl.europa.eu
