How to obtain press accreditation at the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe Media Department makes two kinds of accreditation available to the media.

Temporary accreditation

Temporary accreditation, for a maximum period of five days, may be issued for a specific event. Applications need to be made at the latest one working day in advance.

Once accreditation is confirmed, journalists may collect their badges from the Council of Europe’s main entrance (Accueil badges). These must be worn visibly at all times in order to facilitate the work of security staff.

Additional special accreditation may be necessary for certain events.
 

Permanent accreditation

A permanent accreditation card, for a maximum period of 12 months, may be issued to journalists who are regularly present, either because they are based in Strasbourg or in adjacent regions/countries or because they are required to follow the work of the Council of Europe on a regular basis.

The Media Department reserves the right not to renew a permanent accreditation which has not been used during the previous year, or if no media coverage of the Council of Europe and/or its activities has been produced.
 

 General rules

All applicants for accreditation must be media professionals engaged in regular journalistic activities and must provide evidence that they represent a genuine media outlet.

A valid press card issued by a competent national or international authority or recognised professional journalists’ organisation must be provided. In the absence of a press card, an official letter from the relevant press organisation, signed by the editor-in-chief, must be provided.

Media accreditation grants access to film and undertake journalistic work only in areas open to the public.

Journalists accredited to attend events at the Council of Europe may not use this status to carry out any other form of work while on the premises.

The Media Department reserves the right to refuse or to cancel the accreditation of journalists affiliated to press organisations whose activities conflict with the principles of the Council of Europe, who use their accreditation for reprehensible purposes, who act in a way which contravenes the ethical principles or standards of journalism, or who violate Council of Europe rules.

The Media Department may request to see recent journalistic work or reports.

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to the Media Department: [email protected].
 

Financial support

The Council of Europe may occasionally have a limited budget to contribute towards the travel and accommodation costs of journalists who wish to cover the sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities or other major events but lack sufficient resources to do so. Priority will be given to journalists from non-EU countries.