Caribbean media workers in Belgium

By Lyf Compton in Brussels

Thirteen media practitioners from the Caribbean are in Brussels, Belgium, on a familiarization tour relating to the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The study tour, which runs from June 26 to 29, is being funded by the European Union (EU) and is designed to provide information that can be reported to audiences in the Caribbean region. 

Today, Tuesday, June 27, the group will visit the Council of the EU (Justus Lipsius Building), where they will be given a presentation on the functioning of the Council of the EU and the European Commission. They will also make a visit to the press centre and media facilities at the Justus Lipsius Building and the Europa Building.

Yesterday, the group was involved in a number of off the record presentations at the EEAS building, which was under a “yellow alert” and had fully armed soldiers stationed outside and armed security personnel inside.

Presentations were made on the function and role of the EEAS and strategic communications by Information and Communication officer, Strategic Communication Division David Tunney and EU investments in renewable energy projects in the Caribbean by policy adviser Institutional Relations, European Investment Bank (EIB) Monica Pena Sastre and the EIB’s principal advisor, International Media Shirlin Wheeler.

There were also presentations on EU and Latin America relations and development projects in the Caribbean by the EEAS’s head of the Division Regional Affairs for the Americas Manfredo Fanti and the EEAS’s head of the Caribbean Sector, Directorate General for Development and Cooperation, European Commission Federico Berna, respectively.

The journalists also witnessed the EEAS’s daily midday briefing, which was also attended by journalists visiting from Russia.

The EEAS is the European Union’s diplomatic service. Its role is to make sure the voice of the European Union and its people are heard in the world.

A key aspect of the work of the EEAS is its ability to work closely with the foreign and defence ministries of the 28 member states of the EU and the other EU institutions, such as the European Commission, Council and Parliament. It also has a strong working relationship with the United Nations and other international organizations. 

SEARCHLIGHT is being represented by senior reporter Lyf Compton.