Media accreditation
European Council, 27-28 June 2024
The meeting of the European Council will take place on 27 and 28 June 2024 in the Europa building in Brussels.
Should media opportunities be confirmed for the informal dinner of EU heads of state or government of 17 June, this accreditation will also be valid for the 17 June informal dinner.
Deadline: Wednesday 29 May 2024, at 14:00
One-year badge
With this badge, you no longer have to apply for accreditation for each event separately. It also grants you access to the Council during working days when there are no summits or high-level events.
The one-year badge is only available for:
- EU/EFTA nationals residing in Belgium
- non-EU nationals who have lived in Belgium for at least 5 years.
Applications for the calendar year 2024 are now open. If you have applied for the 1 year badge 2024 in December 2023 or February 2024, you do not need to register.
Deadline Wednesday 29 May, at 14:00
Registration will reopen in the course of 2024
Contact us
If you need help with accreditations, contact the press centre:
Accreditation for summits and high-level events
Media representatives wishing to cover EU summits and high-levels events in person are required to register in advance.
To receive updates about accreditation, you can:
Accreditation for ministerial meetings and other events
Media professionals who wish to cover ministerial meetings and any other meetings (with the exception of summits and high-level events) can avail of three options:
- one-day badge
- one-year badge
- the EU interinstitutional badge
One-day accreditation
It can be obtained from the security desk at the entrance to the press centre. Please bring the following documents:
- a valid ID or passport
- a valid press card or a letter signed by the editor-in-chief of your media organisation that confirms your status as a journalist and states which event you are covering
One-year badge
The one-year badge for EU summits can also be used to access the Council on regular working days.
EU inter-institutional badge
The EU institutions have a joint accreditation scheme for Brussels-based correspondents. It is managed by the European Commission.
Holders of the inter-institutional badge have access to the press facilities of the Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.
Terms and conditions
All accredited journalists must adhere to the General rules applicable to the press centre and to any specific additional rules that would be set by the General Secretariat of the Council.
They are not allowed, under any circumstances, to publish any picture or image of the badge received or any image where this badge would appear on the internet or social media. Similarly, they undertake not to have any picture or image of this badge published by a third party on the internet or social media.
The press office of the General Secretariat of the Council reserves the right to revoke accreditations of any journalist whose behaviour interferes with the smooth running of the media or other activities of the European Institutions.
Who is eligible?
Media accreditation is only accessible to journalists from bona fide media organisation.
Requests are reviewed by the Council press office following criteria defined together with the International Press Association (API).
Requests for the one-year badge are also subject to a security verification. Information submitted will therefore be used by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (GSC) and sent to one or more National Security Authorities.
Journalists applying for media accreditation to the European Council must fulfil the following criteria:
- they must be an employee of a bona fide media organisation or a freelance journalist who regularly covers EU affairs for a bona fide media organisation.
- journalism must be their main source of income.
What is a bona fide media?
To be considered a bona fide media, your organisation must:
- be editorially independent and a commercial organisation with no distribution restrictions
- be open about how and by whom it is financed
- provide information on the activities of the European Institutions
Additional requirements for online media: the website must be a professional online media website which adheres to the rules laid down for media organisations (see above), and have a specific, verifiable street address and telephone number.
The majority of the website content must:
- cover original news, commentary or analysis
- cover EU affairs
- be updated at least once per week
Who is not eligible?
- paper or online publications which are communications outreach or advocacy publications of non-governmental or non-profit organisations.
- think tanks or interest groups.
- the Council will reject applications from non-journalists, lobbyists and consultants, or individuals who have a professional side activity that it deems incompatible with a press accreditation.
What are the criteria used to review your application?
All requests for accreditation are reviewed by the press office of the General Secretariat of the Council. For this purpose, you may be asked to provide additional information/documentation (e.g. proof of work, employment contracts, proof of income, etc.).The General Secretariat may consult the International Press Association (API).
If you are refused accreditation on the grounds that you are not considered a journalist from a bona fide media, you may appeal this decision by email:
Your request must include detailed evidence that you fulfill the criteria mentioned above. Your request for review will be examined by the press office of the General Secretariat of the Council, together with the International Press Association (API). Pending your appeal, the press office of the General Secretariat of the Council may decide to grant or not to grant you temporary accreditation.
Last review: 17 May 2024