ACCREDITATION

For detailed information, please visit the official site of the Hellenic Presidency at: http://www.eu2003.gr

Access to the Press Centre will be strictly limited to accredited representatives of the media. They must carry with them their official (yellow) accreditation card, together with an official identity document.

The main Accreditation Centre for the media will be located at the International Airport “Macedonia” of Thessaloniki, in the departures area (1st floor).

An Accreditation Desk for media will also operate in a specially converted, guarded area of the Porto Carras hotel complex. This desk will accommodate last minute accreditation requests.

Media representatives may collect their cards from the airport Accreditation Centre upon presentation of proof of identity.

Collection of groups of accreditation cards from the airport only (official delegations, press agencies, TV channels etc.) is possible before June 19, 2003. Prior contact with the Accreditation Centre is necessary.

For last minute accreditation the following documents are required:

-  passport or identity card

-  press card

-  a letter from the represented media organisation

-  a completed application form

-  a certificate from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of their respective country of origin, or, from their respective Embassies in Athens, confirming their status (ORIGINALS ONLY issued not more than five days prior to 20 June, 2003). This applies only to those who are not already accredited with the Commission.

The card is personal and non-transferable and must be carried visibly at all times during the meeting. Lost cards must be reported immediately to the Accreditation Centre, and a duplicate card may be requested.

The following desks also operate at the “Macedonia” Airport:

-Information Desk

Contact: Chrysoula Marinou, Elena Drakopoulou

Tel: (+30) 2310-805706-7

Fax: (+30) 2310-805708

-Transportation Office

Contact: Michalis Konstantinidis, Stefanos Spirou

Tel: (+30) 2310-472644, (+30) 2310-472708

Accreditation Desk at the Thessaloniki Macedonia Airport

Tel: (+30)2310-472640, (+30)2310-472692

(+30)2310-472687, (+30)2310-472661

(+30) 2310-472658

Fax : (+30)2310-472657, (+30)2310-472653

e-mail :

Opening hours

Monday / 16 June / 12:00 – 20:00
Tuesday / 17 June / 10:00 – 21:00
Wednesday / 18 June / 08:00 – 22:00
Thursday / 19 June / 08:00 – 22:00
Friday / 20 June / 08:00 – 20:00

Contact

Andreas Stamatakis

Accreditation Desk at the Press Centre, Porto Carras Complex

Tel: (+30)2310-004006-8

Fax: (+30)2310-004009-10

Opening hours:

Wednesday / 18 June / 08:00 – 22:00
Thursday / 19 June / 08:00 – 22:00
Friday / 20 June / 08:00 – 22:00
Saturday / 21 June / 08:00 – 10:00

Contact:

Areti Gourgouli

PRESS CENTRE

Press Centre Venues

The Press Centre will operate in prefabricated structures in the Porto Carras complex area, situated at the peninsula of Sithonia, the middle prong of Chalkidiki, where the working sessions of the European Council will take place.

An Accreditation Desk for the media will operate at the Press Centre of the Porto Carras hotel complex, as well as the International Airport “Macedonia” of Thessaloniki.

Press Centre equipment

Written Press Area (1,500 working seats) as follows:

o  900 working seats equipped with :

§  1 free – access ISDN line.

§  1 analogue telephone with dialing in tone mode

§  2 sockets 220 V AC with ground connection

o  300 working seats with PC. Every seat will be equipped with :

§  1 Internet-connected PC

§  1 free – access analogue telephone line

§  1 analogue telephone with dialing in tone mode

§  2 sockets 220 V AC with ground connection

o  300 working seats equipped with :

§  1 RJ45 jack for free access to internet through dynamic network (plug & play)

§  1 free – access analogue telephone line

§  1 analogue telephone with dialing in tone mode

§  2 sockets 220 V AC with ground connection

o  38 printers

o  20 fax machines

o  12 photocopiers

o  10 Closed Circuit TV monitors

o  2 led screens of CCTV

o  500 wireless receivers - headphones

o  600 lockers

o  Stand-ups for television channels

o  Coffee stands

-  Main Lobby:

The Main Lobby will host

o  Offices of the Press Services of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council General Secretariat and the Italian Presidency

o  11 offices for international news agencies

o  Information desk

o  Meeting-point for the pools

o  Restaurant

o  Bar

o  Press distribution desks

o  Information kiosks

An Accreditation Desk will also operate at the entrance of the Porto Carras Hotel complex area, in a specially converted area.

Accreditation Desk at the Porto Carras Press Centre:

Tel: (+30)2310-004006-8

Fax: (+30)2310-004009-10

Radio – Television Area

This Area will house

o  48 booths for radio stations and 112 editing booths for TV channels. Every booth (3,0 by 3,0 m. in size) will have a door with a lock and will be equipped as follows :

§  working desk (3,0 by 0,6 m. in size) and 3 chairs

§  1 free – access ISDN lines.

§  1 analogue telephone with dialing in tone mode

§  3 sockets 220 V AC

§  1 television screen for receiving Internal Television Circuit signal

This Area will also comprise rooms for EBU and Host Broadcaster. The Greek Radio and Television (ERT) is the host broadcaster for television and radio. Its feed will be distributed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU / UER), which will provide the technical services for the distribution of television and radio signals.

There are also open-air stand-up positions for TV channels and parking spaces for the foreign TV networks vans (SNG).

Press Conference Rooms

The Presidency Press Conference Room has a seating capacity of 800.

The Member-States, the Acceding Countries and the Candidate Countries have their own conference rooms (27 rooms with a capacity of 70-300). Every room will be equipped with microphone installation, special lights for television shooting, pedestals for TV cameras and all the necessary electronic equipment.

Contact persons:

Dina Paneti

Opening hours of the Press Centre, Porto Carras

Wednesday / 18 June / 12:00 – 22:00
Thursday / 19 June / 08:00 – end of session
Friday / 20 June / 08:00 – end of session
Σάββατο / 21 June / 08:00 – end of session

Information

Tel: (+30)2310002011-3

Fax: (+30)2310005621-2

Contact Persons

Antigone Pilitsi, Alkis Delantonis

Pools

Because of limited space only photographers with a special pool pass will be allowed to photograph some events of the Council.

Pool members will be accompanied to the events by the officials responsible for media coverage. The meeting point for the pools is located in the Lobby.

Applications for pool cards until June 15 must be submitted to the Accreditation Centre at the

Ministry of Press and Mass Media /

Public Relations Directorate, Zappeion Megaron

Tel.: (+30) 210-3696196 και 210-3696185

Fax: (+30) 210-3221218 και 210-3223575

e-mail :

and from June 16, applications must be sent to the accreditation desk of the Porto Carras complex:

Tel.: (+30) 2310-004006-8

Fax: (+30) 2310-004009, 2310-004010

Contact persons:

Panagiota Komodromou-Parmaki

Polyxeni Mastroperrou

More detailed information regarding events to be covered in pools will be provided in the Information Desk and on the Closed Circuit TV.

Medical services

A fully equipped medical unit and doctors will be available in the Porto Carras lobby area.

Catering

On June 19, 20 and 21 a cafeteria service will be provided during Press Centre opening hours. Also, a beach party will be organized on June 20, on Isa beach.

Closed circuit TV (CCTV)

Closed Circuit Television, which will comprise 12 channels, will relay images from the host broadcaster (ERT) and major international TV networks. It will also display useful information (Info Channel) about the programme of the Council, Press briefings, pools, shuttle bus service etc. on the monitors throughout the Press Centre.

The Presidency Press Conferences will be broadcast live in Greek, English and French on closed circuit TV and via wireless receivers – headphones in the Written Press Area.

Transport

A shuttle bus service will operate on June 18, 19, 20 and 21 between the airport, hotels and the Press Centre. Details of the stopping points, routes and schedules will be available on www.eu2003.gr, in the hotels, at the information desk of the Press Centre and on closed circuit TV.

On June 18 and 19 aninformation desk will be available for Press members at the Thessaloniki “Macedonia” International Airport.

Contact persons:

Stefanos Spyrou

Micheal Konstantinidis

Tel.: (+30) 2310-472644, 2310 472708

Accommodation

Media Representatives can visit the Accommodation page of the official site of the Greek Presidency at: http://www.eu2003.gr for more information on the listed hotels and their exact distance from the Press Centre.

It is recommended that hotel bookings be done before May 17, 2003, otherwise Media Representatives may not be able to find accommodation.

Radio and Television

The Greek Radio and Television (ERT) is the host broadcaster for television and radio. Its feed will be distributed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU / UER), which will provide the technical services for the distribution of television and radio signals.

Requests for TV and radio booths and parking spaces for satellite trucks (SNG) should be addressed to EBU. Booths and SNG parking space will be provided according to a system of prior reservation.

Contact person for television:

European Broadcasting Union (EBU / UER)

Mrs Helena Baertschi

Tel.: (+41) 22 7172853

Fax: (+41) 22 7474840

Mobile: (+41) 79 2134865

e-mail:

ERT

Mr Lambros Mangeras

Tel.: (+30) 210 6066616-7

Fax: (+30) 210 6066659

e-mail:

Contact person for radio:

ERT

Mr. Ioannis Karkaletsis

Tel.: (+30) 210 6066367-8

Fax : (+30) 210 6066779

mobile: (+30) 6977 581804

e-mail:

Press Centre in Thessaloniki

For the convenience of media representatives who will cover parallel activities of social organizations, a Press Centre will operate at the International Exhibition Centre of Thessaloniki, (Pavillion 13).

-  250 working seats

-  80 PCs, fax, photocopy machines, ISDN line access.

Opening hours of the Press Centre (International Exhibition Centre)

Wednesday / 18 June / 12:00 – 22:00
Thursday / 19 June / 09:00 – 22:00
Friday / 20 June / 09:00 – 22:00
Saturday / 21 June / 09:00 – 22:00

Information

Tel.: (+30)2310221421,

2310  221429

2310 221445

Fax: (+30)2310221473

2310 221478

Contact person

Viky Alexandratou