Press release – President Sassoli press conference on MFF, Recovery Plan and German Presidency

EP President David Sassoli will hold a press conference following the presentation by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of the revised Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Recovery Plan proposals during an extraordinary plenary session. The President will also brief journalists on the Conference of Presidents’ meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble ahead of the German Presidency of EU Council starting on 1 July.

How to follow the press conference online

Parliament will be using an interactive virtual press environment (with interpretation) based on Skype TX, in conjunction with the traditional EbS and web-streaming services.

You can follow the press conference on EbS+ or via Parliament’s web-streaming.

If you wish to ask a question:

You will need a SKYPE account.

Connect to VOXBOXEP and write your name and media organisation in the chat box

Please use headphones and a microphone for better sound quality.

The system will be managed by Parliament’s media services and you will be placed in a queue (virtual waiting room) before being invited to ask your question(s).

If you have any trouble connecting, you can contact: +32 22834220.

After asking a question / listening to the reply (and any follow-up), you should then disconnect from Skype so that the next journalist in line can be connected to the press briefing room.

You only need to connect through Skype if you wish to ask a question.

REMINDER: working conditions in Parliament for journalists in light of Coronavirus

It is mandatory as of 13 May to wear a community mask that covers mouth and nose at all times while in Parliament’s buildings. This is to continue to ensure Parliament’s operational capacity, while at the same time avoiding health risks for Members, staff and other persons working in and visiting the European Parliament.

Journalists who have to come to Parliament in person are therefore asked to bring a mask and wear it in order to access Parliament’s premises. There is no requirement as to the type of mask, as long as it covers both nose and mouth.

Journalists must now wear a mask at all times. However, journalists can exceptionally and for the limited duration of a recording (stand-ups, interviews, studio recordings) remove their mask, if the social distancing measures are respected. This exception also applies to taking the floor in press conferences. Please note that masks should be put on again immediately after the recording. The exceptions do not apply to bilateral conversations or interviews that are not recorded.

To allow for this exception, journalists are required to keep a distance of 2 meters preventively.

Please refrain from coming to EP premises if you present any symptoms of a respiratory infection, if you have knowingly been in contact with an infected person in the last 14 days or if you have been to regions with very high transmission rates.