Some 1,000 journalists protecting EU Council summits should pay for the safety screening undertaken by Belgian authorities with the intention to obtain their accreditation.
The Belgian authorities has been accused of working a media crackdown just like the likes of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Journalists protecting the EU and residing in Brussels should pay the €50 with the intention to endure the safety screening.
The Council’s October summit, wherein the Brexit withdrawal settlement must be finalised, would be the first affected by the brand new legislation, which got here into pressure by a Belgian Royal Decree on May 8.
Romain Sadet, a European Council spokesperson, mentioned “the fee applies for all individuals screened, not only to journalists,” and that safety screening for EU summits was extra “comprehensive” than for the EU establishments.
Belgian authorities present a safety for all EU and Nato summits hosted in Brussels, in addition to different companies akin to motorcades for visiting heads of state.
Belgium already receives tens of millions in EU funding as the principle host of the bloc’s three main establishments – the Commission, Parliament and Council – however hopes it may claw again round €50,000
The European Commission, the EU’s highly effective govt, has raised public opposition to the choice and claimed it’s going to study any criticism on the topic.
A spokeswoman mentioned: “We believe journalists should be doing their jobs in the best conditions possible.”
The International Press Association, a union representing overseas journalists in Brussels, mentioned the cost was “an unnecessary obstacle” to reporting freely on EU points.
VVJ and AJP, two Belgian journalist associations, have additionally voiced misery on the choice.
An EU supply mentioned: “The move is reminiscent of a crackdown on the media like we see in Moscow or Iran.”