About us

The Association of European Journalists – The Communication Network (EJ) is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting European integration based on democracy and resolved to maintain the freedom of the press.

It was founded at the beginning of the Sixties by a group of journalists of the first six Members States of the European Community.

It consists of a network of journalists particularly motivated and engaged to spread knowledge of the European Union and other European organizations to the European citizens and to promote, at the same time, debates and initiatives useful to bringing European Institutions and European Citizens closer.

In performing this communication process, the Association is aware of the need to help European citizens to understand better the European Institutions, how they work and what they are really doing for them it is not enough to talk to people but it is also necessary to have dialogues with them.

Promoting a sense of European awareness and freedom of the press in Europe are also amongst the purposes of the Association.

In the framework of its purposes, the EJ Association pays special attention to the regional and cross-boarder communication dimension related to Europe


Membership

While at the beginning and for many years members of the Association used to be national sections of journalists, individual memberships introduced were in Summer 2006 and this is in the conviction to overcome national limits towards a more involving and cross-boarder participation in a better European spirit.

Effective EJ members are now individual persons working as journalists and/or in the media in a European Union or the Council of Europe member country.

Those not wishing to be effective members but feel motivated and interested in supporting the Association’s purposes and participating in its activities can be adherent members without the right to vote in the Assembly.

The application to become members of the Association must be addressed to the president of the Executive Committee which fixes the annual memberships fee.


Organs and organization

The General Assembly elects the Executive Committee every three years, with a maximum of 15 members.

The Executive Committee elects the President, from two to four Vice-presidents, a Secretary General and a treasurer from among its members.

The General Assembly also elects two auditors.

The Association has its seat in Brussels.


Aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of the "Association of European Journalists-The Communication Network" are listed under article 3 of the Association’s Statute:

• to actively participate in the promotion of European integration,
• to bring together people who practice journalistic and/or media activity in a member state of the European Union or of the Council of Europe who believe in the necessity of European integration on a democratic basis and who defend the freedom of the press and freedom of access to information,
• to promote this integration and freedom respecting the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union solemnly proclaimed at the European Council in Nice on 7th December 2000,
• to promote a European spirit,
• to promote and defend the freedom of press in Europe,
• to increase knowledge of the European Union and other European organisations and to inform the public about the competences and activities of these organisations,
• to place particular emphasis on regional information and cross-border cooperation,
• to promote mutual understanding between members,
• to create a network, especially for journalists whose freedom of expression is threatened by public powers,
• to promote the development of the profession and its political conditions within Europe,
• to facilitate members’ access to European information sources,
• to promote all other initiatives and activities which aim to fulfil the above-mentioned objectives of the association.

If you are a journalist and share this aims and objectives and would like to join other colleagues in shaping a new Europe, Click here