eu4journalists

National and regional EU info

2. National governments and spokespeople

Every member state has a permanent representation to the EU, based in Brussels and headed by a diplomat with ambassador’s status. The representation is made up of diplomats and civil servants seconded from government ministries, and it covers all aspects of EU activity. Staff from the permanent representation attend Council meetings, either on their own or accompanied by experts from their home capital. Each permanent representation has a press officer who can give you the viewpoint of their government on specific issues currently under discussion.

Austria:
Sonja Rosenberger
tel. +32 2 234 5215
GSM: +32 477 333 425
E-mail: sonja.rosenberger@bmeia.gv.at

Belgium:
Delphine Colard
tel: +32 2 233 0301
GSM: +32 473 741 294
E-mail: delphine.colard@diplobel.fed.be

Bulgaria:
Betina Joteva
tel. +32 2 235 8347
GSM: +32 497 241 748
E-mail: betina.joteva@bg-permrep.eu

Cyprus:
Maria Phanti
tel. +32 2 739 5139
GSM: +32 474 333 372
Email: mphanti@pio.moi.gov.cy

Czech Republic:
Jan Vytopil
tel: +32 2 213 9174
GSM: +32 475 330 252
E-mail: vytopil@mzv.cz

Denmark:
Preben Aamann
tel: +32 2 233 0946
GSM: +32 475 603 819
E-mail: preaam@um.dk

Estonia:
Marika Post
tel: + 32 2 227 3922
GSM: +32 474 981 657
E-mail: marika.post@mfa.ee

Finland:
Marko Ruonala
tel: +32 2 287 8472
GSM: +32 475 752 072
E-mail: marko.ruonala@formin.fi

France:
Marine de Carne
tel: +32 2 229 8277/78
GSM: +32 475 579 095
E-mail: marine.de-carne@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Germany:
Martin Kotthaus
tel: +32 2 787 1070
GSM: +32 475 453 927
E-mail: martin.kotthaus@auswaertiges-amt.de

Greece:
Vassilis Karavassilis
tel: +32 2 235 0375
GSM: +32 474 701 557
E-Mail: vkaravassilis@gpo.be, greekpressoffice@gpo.be

Hungary:
Julia Manyik
tel: +32 2 234 1410
GSM: +32 478 797 836
E-mail: julia.manyik@hunrep.be

Ireland:
Deirdre Farrell
tel: +32 2 282 3233
GSM: +32 499 585 300
E-mail: deirdre.farrell@dfa.ie

Italy:
Raffaele Langella
tel. +32 2 220 0432
GSM: +32 (0) 492 61 01 72
E-mail: stampa@rpue.it

Latvia:
Inese Allika
tel: +32 2 238 3206
E-mail: inese.allika@mfa.gov.lv


Lithuania:
Jurgita Apanaviciute
tel: +32 2 775 9098
GSM: +32 477 701 528
E-mail: jurgita.apanaviciute@lt-mission-eu.be

Luxembourg:
Tel: +32 2 737 56 00
E-mail: bruxelles.rp@mae.etat.lu

Malta:
Ian Galea
tel: +32 2 343 0195
GSM: +32 498 143 886
E-mail: ian.p.galea@gov.mt

Poland:
Kacper Chmielewski
tel: +32 2 777 7225
GSM: +32 473 553 074
E-mail: kacper.chmielewski@polrepeu.be

Portugal:
Manuel Carvalho
tel: +32 2 286 4278
GSM: +32 478 826 040
E-mail: mcc@reper-portugal.be

Romania:
Brindusa Gabriela Chiributa
tel: +32 2 700 0320
E-mail: brindusa.chiributa@rpro.eu

Slovakia:
Zuzana Dutkova
tel: +32 2 743 68 07
GSM: +32 479 397 488
E-mail: dutkova@pmsreu.be

Slovenia:
Maja Kocijancic
tel: +32 2 213 6425
GSM: +32 499 696 734
E-mail: maja.kocijancic@gov.si

Spain:
Ana de Miguel Langa
tel: +32 2 509 86 42
GSM: +32 476 460 723
E-mail: ana.demiguel@reper.mae.es

Sweden:
Elisabeth Dahlen-Jonsson
tel: +32 2 289 5665
GSM: +32 476 505 022
E-mail: elisabet.dahlen-jonsson@foreign.ministry.se

The Netherlands:
Jan Willem Beaujean
tel: +32 2 679 1509
GSM: +32 475 669 252
E-mail: jw.beaujean@minbuza.nl

United Kingdom:
Victoria Courtney
tel: +32 2 287 8206
GSM: +32 475 446 323
E-mail: victoria.courtney@fco.gov.uk

Candidate countries

Croatia:
Zvonimir Frka-Petesic
tel. +32 2 507 5418
GSM: +32 499 965 713
E-mail: zvonimir.frka-petesic@mvpei.hr

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
Reka Blerim
tel. +32 2 732 9108
E-mail: mk.mission@skynet.be

Turkey:
Caglar Cakiralp
tel. +32 2 289 62 40/51
GSM: +32 473 662 112
E-mail: ccakiralp@mfa.gov.tr

National ministries are usually closely associated with negotiations, so it may also be worthwhile contacting press officers from the departments involved in your country’s government.

Regional offices

Many regions from around the EU have their own offices in Brussels. These are established to lobby and represent the regions’ interests, in particular when the Commission is preparing legislative proposals. They also try to form alliances with other regions sharing common interests, to lobby and gather information in specific areas.

Regional offices vary in status: some are integral parts of the regional government, mainly in countries with federal structures; others are set up by looser associations of local or regional authorities. Some are partially funded by industry or public organisations, such as utilities or universities, and therefore focus their activities on their sponsors’ fields of interest.

Only the biggest regional offices have full-time press officers in Brussels – indeed, some of the smallest are operated by just one person. Nevertheless, they are all there to represent their region, and are likely to know details of any new or planned measures which may affect their region’s interests. The offices often have colleagues and support staff back in their region who are well informed on EU matters affecting the region.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions has links to member states’ regional authorities.