It will be up to member countries to decide which YouTubers and TikTokers should attend, but the guidance from the Council says they should not pick anyone who has “published views against EU values,” said the guidance.
The content creators should also not have any “significant or long-standing commercial collaborations,” to avoid associations with large brands, the guidance continues. The influencers will not be paid as part of the scheme.
They can’t be seeking a political role, or already hold one, meaning influencer-turned-Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou wouldn’t be able to get the required accreditation.
EU countries should pick influencers whose social media accounts have a “significant audience” relative to their country’s population, and who have a track record of creating content about politics, specifically the EU, the guidance says.
EU countries still need to give their backing to the plan, however, one EU diplomat told POLITICO that the guidance has his support, adding: “We’ll have to see how it plays out in terms of having these content creators on the ground during Council days. What kind of access are they given? What kind of content are they able to generate?” The diplomat was granted anonymity to speak freely.
Access to film within the Council building in Brussels is normally reserved for accredited journalists.