The CIoJ has organised a visit to Strasbourg for working journalist members on 14-16 May.

Briefings have been arranged by some of the top people at the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and Eurocorps. These include Terry Davis, former Labour MP who has since 2004 been Secretary-General of the CoE, a judge or advocate-general of the ECHR, and the general commanding Eurocorps. The programme – which is now being finalised - will be in the next The Journal and on the CIoJ website. It will also be sent direct to those that register to go on the visit.

There will also be a possibility on the Friday afternoon of interviewing Council of Europe specialists if the subject that particularly interests you is not included in the programme.

The visit is sponsored by the Council of Europe, which is covering most costs for a strictly limited number of members.

Those coming will travel first class by Eurostar to Paris and then French TGV to Strasbourg on the afternoon of Tuesday, 13th May, arriving at the hotel that evening. Members coming from other parts of the country or of Europe may fly to Strasbourg, providing they are there by Tuesday evening. Most members will return on Saturday morning, but they may stay on (at their own cost) for the week-end in Strasbourg.

The CoE will repay first class return rail fare, or economy class return air fare. It also gives members an allowance of €119 per day that the visiting journalists are at the Council of Europe. The Court of Human Rights is also covered, but the part of the visit to Eurocorps – the embryo of a future European army – is not.

The International Committee is trying to keep costs to a minimum and to increase the number of sponsored places..

PLEASE BOOK NOW! Numbers are strictly limited to the number of sponsored places, so we may have to put people on a waiting list until we know the final number that can go.

When booking, please state the publication or radio or TV station for which you work. Or, for freelances, please indicate the publication or programme where you hope to write about the visit.

BOOKINGS (accompanied by £20 cash or cheque, made out to the CIoJ) TO: Dominic Cooper, General Secretary, CIoJ, 2 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU.

(The £20 is to cover overheads and miscellaneous costs. It is repayable if you cancel at least 10 days before the visit.)