The main media centre will be located on the ground floor at the Summit Venue, Harpa conference Centre.

Due to limited capacity in Harpa, there will be a second media centre, located at Tryggvagata 19, within 5 minutes walking distance. If the media centre in Harpa is at full capacity, media representatives will be able to access the facilities in the second media centre. Broadcast media and international news agencies will be given priority for working space at Harpa.

 

Access badges of media representatives with confirmed accreditation will be provided prior to the Summit at the Media Centre at Tryggvagata 19. The accreditation will open at 16:00 Monday 15 May.

Please bring a valid ID when picking up the badge, as well as a confirmation of your accreditation. An accreditation badge is needed for entering the Summit venue.

Please note that there are multiple entries to Tryggvagata 19. The entry to the Media Centre and the accreditation office is on the west side of the building, shown on the map and visible on the photograph below:

 

Both media centres will be equipped with chairs, desks, media booths, access to enhanced WIFI and electricity, live feed from the Summit, information on programme and press events and light refreshments. 

Opening hours

Harpa:

16 May – 11:00-22:00
17 May – 06:00-17:00

Tryggvagata 19:

15 May – 16:00-20:00
16 May – 08:00-22:00
17 May – 06:00-20:00

Please be aware that arrival/departure for media at Harpa will be closed during arrival of Leaders, 16 May at 16:30-17:30 and 17 May 8:00-8:45

There will be pool access for photographers and cameramen at the beginning of each segment, apart from the Press Conference and the doorstep following the arrival which will be open to all media, the latter as space allows. Due to space limitations, access can not be guaranteed to all segments for all who wish to cover those. Media representatives can register for image pool access by sending the following information to [email protected] by 11 May.

• Name, profession, media
• Country
• Which segments they wish to cover
  

Image pools: 

16 May

16:15 – 16:30: Arrivals of high level representatives and special guests  
16:30 – 17:30: Arrivals of Heads of State and Government 
17:45 - 18:45:  Opening of the fourth Summit of the Council of Europe
18:45 – 19:00: Family Photo 
19:00 – 20:15: Roundtable discussions – opening (which country)

17 May 

09:00 – 13:00: General debate and closing session - opening

Day 1 – Tuesday 16 May 

16:00 Media representatives intending to cover the arrival/doorstep must be in Harpa no later than 16:00 as entry/exit to the media centre will be closed during arrivals of Heads of State and Government.

16:15 – 16:30: Arrivals of high level representatives and special guests - image pool

16:30 – 17:30: Arrivals of Heads of State and Government in Harpa - image pool
The Heads of Delegations will be welcomed by the Prime Minister of Iceland and Secretary General of the Council of Europe. 

Opportunities for doorstep interviews. Open for all accredited media but please be aware that the space is limited.  

17:45 - 18:45: United around Our Values - Opening of the fourth Summit of the Council of Europe - image pool.
There will be an image pool for the beginning of the Opening ceremony. Photos will be provided on the MFA Flickr page. The ceremony will be broadcast live from Eldborg Hall by the Host broadcaster. 

18:45: Family Photo - image pool. Photos will be provided on the MFA Flickr page. 

19:00 – 20:15: Roundtable discussions - image pool
Five simultaneous roundtable discussions. Photographers/cameramen can apply for an image pool to cover the beginning of this segment. Photos will be provided on the MFA Flickr page. A list of participants for each roundtable will be provided closer to the Summit.

On the sidelines: Register of damage – signing – Flói, Ground floor: 

Leaders sign the political declaration on Enlarged Partial Agreement for the Register of Damage. Each delegation is responsible for informing press photographers/camerapeople and Media centre staff who will escort press to the signature.  

Day 2 – Wednesday 17 May 

7:45 Media representatives intending to attend doorstep need to be in Harpa at this point as entry/exit to the media centre will be closed during arrivals of Heads of State and Government.

08:00 – 08:45: Arrivals of Heads of State and Government 
Opportunities for doorstep interviews. Open for all accredited media but please be aware that the space is limited. 

09:00 – 13:00: General debate and closing session – image pool
Media can follow the debate live in the media centres and online and clips of speeches will be made available via News Direct. There will be an image pool for the opening of the debate.

14:30: Press Conference:
The main press conference will take place at Norðurljós, second floor. The presidency of the Council of Europe will be handed over to Latvia in the conference and the final outcome document and deliverables will be presented. The press conference marks the end of the official programme. It is open to all accredited media and will be broadcast by the Host broadcaster. 

On the sidelines: Register of damage – signing – Flói, Ground floor: 

Leaders sign the political declaration on Enlarged Partial Agreement for the Register of Damage. Each delegation is responsible for informing press photographers/camerapeople and Media centre staff who will escort press to the signature.  

Media book their own interviews. A list of press contacts for each delegation can be found further down this page.

Interview and stand-up area

At the back of the Harpa media centre there is a space dedicated for interviews and stand-up. Please note that there are limited spaces available, so it is necessary to book in advance, at [email protected] or directly at the press desk in the media centre. The spaces can be booked for 15 minutes, with a possibility to add another 15 minutes if needed. We kindly ask you to respect the fixed time slots.

Media representatives can also use the doorstep area for interviews. It does not require booking. 

Booths

Broadcast media can book booths (160x160 cm) at Harpa at [email protected]. 10 m2 rooms can be booked at the second media centre at Tryggvagata 19.

Stand-up outside Harpa

Media has access to the pier Faxagarður next to Harpa if they wish to broadcast from an outside location with Harpa in the background.

Kaldalón

Delegations can book the conference room Kaldalón for press conferences (ground floor). Information on these press conferences will be provided on screens in the press centre as soon as they are made available.

Food and beverages

Light refreshments will be available at both media centres. 

All accredited media representatives will get a yellow press badge valid for both days. This will give you access to the media centre, the interview area and press conferences in Kaldalón and Norðurljós..

Orange pool badges will give additional access to specific segments during the Summit (see further information below).

Media badges

YELLOW
Press

ORANGE: FLOATER PASS FOR PRESS POOL (can only be used with the yellow pass)
Valid for Press for temporary access to selected areas within the Summit venue.

Harpa ground floor

Media has access to the areas marked yellow and the space marked “Interview Area“.

Street closures

For security reasons, the streets around Harpa Conference Centre will be closed to all traffic except for pedestrians and bicycles. The closures will take effect at 23:00 hrs. Monday, 15 May, and will be lifted at 18:00 hrs Wednesday, 17 May. 

For more information on street closures see here.

The official broadcaster for the Summit is The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). Coverage and production of the international signal will be provided from the centre of events and through the satellite network of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Access to the footage will be open to all broadcasters and news agencies via News Direct.  

The official broadcaster will be covering these main media opportunities:

16 May:

• Arrivals of Heads of State and Government
• Opening Session – United Around Our Values
• Family Photo
• Opening of Roundtable discussions

17 May:

• Arrivals of Heads of State and Government 
• General debate – United for Europe
• Closing Session – United Around Our Values – Handover of Presidency to Latvia
• Press Conference

To access material via News Direct you need to click on the link below and register if you are not yet registered. You will then hava a login and password to access: 

Newsdirect digital platform: https://newsdirect.ebu.ch/auth/login

Here are you can find information on how to download the material. 

Official photographs will be provided via the official Flickr page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and the Council of Europe media gallery. They will be uploaded continuously.

MFA Iceland‘s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/utanrikisraduneyti/

Council of Europe media gallery: https://media-gallery.coe.int/

You can also follow the Summit online on the Council of Europe's website, with interpretations in English, French, Italian, German and Ukrainian: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/summit-live

Thursday 11 May 

2023 IDAHOT+ Forum

The Government of Iceland is hosting this year’s European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network’s (EFPN) IDAHOT+ Forum in Reykjavík, Iceland, with the support of the Council of Europe’s SOGI Unit. The annual IDAHOT+ Forum aims to strengthen cooperation and understanding of the rights of LGBTI+ people between European Governments, International Governmental Organisations, International Civil Society Organisations, Businesses, Academics, and key stakeholders.

For further information: https://www.government.is/topics/foreign-affairs/coe-presidency/idahot-forum-2023/

 Location: Harpa conference hall, Austurbakki 2.

Monday 15 May

9:00-13:00 High-level conference on the role of local and regional authorities in upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law 

High-level political conference of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe , together with the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities and the City of Reykjavík. Media are advised to get accredited in advance; contact person at Reykjavik City Hall: Eva Bergþóra, [email protected]

For information: Concept note and draft agenda

Press Contacts: 

Sabine Zimmer, Head of Institutional Relations Unit
[email protected] ; +33 3 88 41 25 97

Irina Sahakyan-Vetter, Head of External Relations Unit
[email protected] ; +33 3 90 21 54 93

Location: Reykjavík City Hall, Tjarnargata 11.

10:00–11:30 Round table on A Democracy Fit for the Future 

Roundtable organised in the context of the extraordinary meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in collaboration with the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland and the Parliament of Iceland. Speakers include Tiny Kox, President of the PACE, Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Culture and Business Affairs, Alexander Shlyk, Special Adviser of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Elections, and Mariia Mezentseva, Chairperson of the Ukrainian delegation to the PACE. 

For information.

Press Contacts: 

Francesc Ferrer, PACE Communication Division
[email protected]; +33 630496822

Lára Jónasdóttir, Project Manager at the Institute of International Affairs
[email protected]; +354 694 7740

Location: Veröld – The House of Vigdís, University of Iceland, Brynjólfsgata 1, 107 Reykjavík

Valid press credentials grant access to the event; contact person at The University of Iceland: Lára Jónasdóttir, [email protected]

11:45 Launch of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment 

Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President Tiny Kox will launch the ‘Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment’, in the presence of former Icelandic President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as a Head of State, to whom the Prize pays tribute. Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, and PACE Equality Committee Chairperson Mariia Mezentseva will also participate in the ceremony. 

Press contacts:

Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir, Prime Minister‘s Office | [email protected] | +354 824 6743

Francesc Ferrer, PACE Communication Division | [email protected] | +33 630496822

More on the Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment.

Location: The House of Vigdís, University of Iceland, Brynjólfsgata.

14:15–18:30 Extraordinary Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

The extraordinary meeting of the Standing Committee of the PACE includes a special event on the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe – United around values in the face of extraordinary challenges, divided into two panel discussions: “The Council of Europe as a key player of the multilateral architecture” and “The Council of Europe as a pioneer of human rights protection: the new generation of rights”, with the participation of invited guests. 

Press contacts:

Auður Örlygsdóttir, Office of the Parliament of Iceland | [email protected] | +354 866 5269

Francesc Ferrer, PACE Communication Division | [email protected] | +33 630496822

More on the meeting of the Standing Committee.

Location: Iceland Parliament Hotel, Thorvaldsenstraeti 2–6, 101 Reykjavík 

Valid press credentials grant access to the event; contact person: Auður Örlygsdóttir, [email protected]

Tuesday 16 May

10:30 Council of Europe media briefing

Briefing for media ahead of the Summit by Daniel Höltgen, CoE Director of Communications and Spokesperson.

Location: CoE Summit media centre Tryggvagata 19. 

Media representatives are welcome to book accommodation at the Center Hotels with a 10% discount using this link.

Please note that due to a high demand for accommodation in Reykjavík, there might be less availability closer to the Summit. 

Keflavík airport is located approximately 45-60 mins away from Harpa, the Summit venue. Bus service is available from the airport to Reykjavík. You can book through the following links:

• https://www.re.is/
• https://airportdirect.is/ 

Albania
Ms. Manjola Hasa
Phone: 00355697348220
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Armenia
Mr. Davit Asoyan
Phone: +33 7 68 56 28 08
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Austria
Mr. Stephan Götz-Bruha
Phone: +43 664 6105797
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Belgium
Mr. François Bailly
Phone: +32 488 07 05 12
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Bulgaria
Mrs. Dilyana Kundeva
Phone: +359 888 638 602
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Canada
Ms. Susanne Conolly
Phone: +32 (0)475 948282
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Cyprus
Ms. Riana Magidou
Phone:
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Czech Republic
Ms. Markéta Řeháková
Phone: +420 721 768 673
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Denmark
Mr. Søren Staberg Madsen
Phone: +45 51 20 50 14
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Estonia
Ms. Mariann Sudakov
Phone: +372 5216821
E-mail: [email protected]

 

European Commission
Ms. Sophie Dupin De Saint Cyr
Phone: +32460764307
E-mail : [email protected]

 

European Council
Mr. Viktor Stefánsson
Phone: +354 8643386
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Finland
Ms. Riikka Hietajärvi
Phone: +358(0)50 304 7997
E-mail: [email protected]

 

France
Ms. Julie Jonckheere
Phone: +33   6  03  75  31  84
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Georgia
Ms. Ekaterine Atoshvili
Phone: +995 595 01 92 90
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Germany
Ms. Sabine Fridfinnsson
Phone: +354 692 1026
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Greece
Ms. Sophia Vastaki
Phone: +30 698 00 65 712
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Hungary
Dr. Vajk Farkas
Phone: +36 30 102 3010
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Iceland
Mr. Sveinn H. Guðmarsson
Phone: +354 695 2790
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ireland
Mr. Nick Miller
Phone: +353 86 6992080
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Italy
Mr. Enrico Lampitella
Phone: +393349254398
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Japan
Mr. Hikaru Iwaki
Phone: +33 (0)3 88 52 85 05
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Latvia
Ms. Justīne Deičmane
Phone: +371 26186068
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Luxembourg
Mrs Céline Derveaux
Phone: +352 621738176
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Malta
Ms Claire Azzopardi Zerafa
Phone: +356 79202138
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Moldova
Ms. Olga Rosca
Phone: +37369202291* only available on WhatsApp and Signal
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Monaco

Ms. Élodie Brimaud
Phone: +33 678 63 51 67
E-mail: [email protected] 

Ms. Geneviève Berti
Phone: +377 98 98 22 22
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Montenegro
Mr Miloš Perišić
Phone: +382 67 932 323
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Netherlands
Ms. Angela Hess
Phone: +31 (0) 625 725 223
E-mail: [email protected]

 

North Macedonia
Ms. Vjosa Ismaili
Phone: +389 70 236 249
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Norway
Mr. Mathias Rongved
Phone: +47 975 65 258
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Poland
Mrs. Anetta Czarnecka
Phone: +48 721 800 765
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Portugal
Ms. Susana Barros
Phone: +351 966 013 787
E-mail: [email protected]

 

San Marino
Ms. Alessandra Albertini
Phone: +39 0549 882213/+39 0549 882254
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Serbia
Ms. Vineta Marinović
Phone: +381 60 7096677/+381 65 208 64 38
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Slovakia
Mr. Martin Strižinec
Phone: +421905982221
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Slovenia
Ms. Katja Kralj Tomšič
Phone: 00386 41 556 581
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Spain
Ms. Elena Aljarilla
Phone: 0034 677 76 04 23
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Switzerland
Ms. Gianna Blum
Phone: +41 79 263 23 80
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Türkiye
Mr. Dilşad Kırbaşlı Karaoğlu
Phone: + 90 (537) 762 5747
E-mail: [email protected]

 

United Kingdom
Ms. Lisa Waugh
Phone: +354 696 1501
E-mail: [email protected]

 

United States
Ms. Karen Huntress
Phone: +354-693-9210
E-mail: [email protected]

Here is a list of participants in the Summit.