The International Press Association (API-IPA) – official representative of the foreign journalists in Brussels – is very concerned about the arrest, on Friday 30 November, of French journalist Rémy Buisine whilst reporting about the 'yellow vests' demonstration in the Brussels' city center.

Le Conseil européen a annoncé que son soi-disant badge de 6 mois, destiné aux journalistes souhaitant assister aux sommets européens, serait bientôt remplacé par un badge valable un an – une demande de longue date de l'API. Cela nous évite d'avoir demander accreditation tous les six mois: une fois par an suffira. Les journalistes peuvent soumettre leur demande jusqu'à la fin novembre. 

The European Council has announced that its so-called 6-months badge for journalists wanting to attend European summit meetings, will be replaced by a badge that will be valid for one year – something that API has long asked for. It saves us the trouble of having to apply every six months: from now on once a year will be enough. Journalists can apply until the end of November.

Foreign correspondents in Brussels today commemorated Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese investigative journalist who was murdered exactly a year ago, while investigating corruption at the highest political level in Malta.

In the press room of the European Commission journalists and spokespeople held a minute's silence and a commemoration was also held at the entrance of the International Press Center Residence Palace.

Des correspondents à Bruxelles ont commémoré aujourd'hui Daphne Caruana Galizia, la journaliste d'investigation maltaise assassinée il y a exactement un an, alors qu'elle enquêtait sur une affaire de corruption au plus haut niveau politique à Malte.

Dans la salle de presse de la Commission européenne, les journalistes et les porte-parole ont observé une minute de silence et une réunion de commémoration a aussi eu lieu à l'entrée du centre de presse international Residence Palace.

The International Press Association (API-IPA) is shocked by the brutal murder of Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova of tv-station TVN. API-IPA strongly condemns this crime against a journalist who was doing her work, by investigating fraud with EU-funds. We expect the Bulgarian authorities to do their utmost to investigate the truth and to bring the perpetrators of this horrible act to justice. 

L'Association internationale de la presse (API-IPA) est choquée par le meurtre horrible de la journaliste bulgare Viktoria Marinova de la chaîne télé TVN. L'API-IPA condamne fermement ce crime contre une journaliste qui faisait son travail en enquêtant sur une fraude avec des fonds de l'UE. Nous attendons des autorités bulgares qu'elles fassent tout leur possible pour enquêter sur la vérité et traduire en justice les coupables de cet acte horrible.

The API Council has unanimously chosen Council-member Dafydd ab Iago as interim Vice-President of the association, after the departure of Vice-President Eric Maurice, who recently left EUObserver and journalism for the Brussels office of the Robert Schuman Foundation.

Dafydd ab Iago, currently representative in the Council of the British media, will be Vice-President until the next General Assembly, in March 2019, conform article 7.3a of the API-statutes.

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The International Press Association (API-IPA) is greatly concerned by Austrian interior ministry instructions to national police "blacklisting" and restricting communication with government-critical media to "the most necessary". The instructions also aimed at providing preferential treatment to government-friendly media.

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Belgian authorities are reviewing their plans to charge a €50 security screening fee to journalists seeking for accreditation to European Council summit meetings.

Thanks to campaigning by the International Press Association (API-IPA), representing Brussels-based foreign journalists, together with Belgian journalist unions VVJ and AJP, Belgian authorities have now signaled an exemption for journalists.

The exemption requires an amendment to a Belgian law passed in February 2018.

 Les autorités belges sont en train de réexaminer le projet visant à facturer des frais de contrôles de sécurité de 50 euros aux journalistes souhaitant être accrédités pour les réunions du Conseil européen.

L'Association internationale de la presse (API-IPA) est préoccupée par des instructions du ministère de l'Intérieur autrichien à la police nationale pour créer une 'liste noire' et pour la restriction de la communication avec les médias critiques au gouvernement au 'plus nécessaire'. Les instructions visaient également à accorder un traitement préférentiel aux médias favorables au gouvernement.

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Last July, the International Press Association (API-IPA), representing the foreign correspondents in Brussels vis à vis the EU institutions, learned that the Belgian authorities planned to start charging initially € 50 every six months to journalists seeking EU summit accreditation, for their security screening. Recently, we learned that the € 50 fee will now be asked per year and not per semester.

(Version francaise ci-dessous)

The International Press Association (API-IPA), representing the interests of the foreign correspondents in Brussels, has learned that the Belgian authorities will start charging €50 to journalists seeking EU summit accreditation, for their security screening every six months (or €100 per year).

Présents: Margaritis Schinas (SPP), Lisa Dimitrova (SPP), Tom Weingärtner, Lorenzo Consoli (API), Eric Maurice (API) Kris Van Haver (API), Michael Stabenow (API), Hans de Bruijn (API), Thierry Monasse. (API).

• Après le bilan de la réunion informelle des dirigeants qui s'est tenue le 24 juin, il a été convenu que le PSP explorerait des solutions pour l'utilisation d'espaces alternatifs dans la BERL, en particulier aux portes des lieux, permettant de meilleures opportunités de photos et un accès plus facile aux journalistes.

Present: Margaritis Schinas (SPP), Lisa Dimitrova (SPP), Tom Weingärtner, Lorenzo Consoli (API), Eric Maurice (API) Kris Van Haver(API), Michael Stabenow(API), Hans de Bruijn (API), Thierry Monasse (API). 

• Taking stock of the Informal Leaders' meeting, which took place on 24 June, it was agreed that the SPP will explore solutions for use of alternative spaces in the BERL, especially for the doorsteps, allowing for better photo opportunities and easier access of journalists.

 The Lénaïc Fund for Quality Journalism is offering a five-month financial bursary of up to €5,000 for a placement starting in October 2018 with Politico in Brussels.

Applicants must be female EU graduates under 28 years of age, aiming to work in EU journalism, able to write in English and have a reasonable knowledge of a second EU language.