Last week API sent a letter to EU Council secretary-general Mr. Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, asking for more access and facilities for journalists during European Council and ministerial meetings in these Covid-times (see our letter below). We received a reply from Mr. Tranholm-Mikkelsen which unfortunately offers no perspective in the short term on changes in our working conditions at the Council, due to the Covid restrictions. Here is the letter from the secretary-general to API president Katalin Halmai:

La pandémie de Covid a un impact de plus en plus négatif sur le travail des correspondants bruxellois. L'API souhaite plus d'opportunités pour les journalistes de rendre compte directement et de près des sommets et ministériels européens. Dans une lettre adressée au secrétaire général du Conseil de l'UE, Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, l'API demande en particulier que les journalistes puissent accéder aux doorsteps des leaders et des ministres à l'arrivée et au départ dans les bâtiments Lipsius ou Europa. 

The Covid pandemic is having an increasingly negative impact on the way we can do our work as Brussels correspondents. API wants more opportunities for journalists to directly and closely report on European summits and ministerials. In a letter to Council secretary-general Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, API calls in particular for journalists to be allowed access to the doorsteps of leaders and ministers on arrival and departure at the Lipsius or Europa buildings.