Letters — Issue 2

In our founding statement, published in issue one, we described the briefing in Briefing Room B of the Berlaymont as lasting ninety minutes. Dr Ing Helmut Sachverständiger of Bonn writes to inform us that it lasted ninety-one minutes, and that there was also a pie chart. We are grateful for the correction. We have updated our records. The pie chart remains unexplained.

To the Editors of The Roundabout

Dear Editors,

I write in a personal capacity and not on behalf of any institution, directorate-general, or other body with which I may be professionally associated, to offer what I hope will be taken in the constructive spirit in which it is intended.

I read your founding issue with considerable interest. I note, however, that your characterisation of the Commission's spokesperson service as having "elevated the act of saying nothing into a salaried profession" may give readers an inaccurate impression of the considerable work undertaken daily by communications professionals across the institution.

I would be happy to arrange a briefing at a mutually convenient time, at which the communications process could be explained in more detail. Background only, of course. I am confident that a fuller understanding of the constraints under which spokespersons operate would be beneficial to your coverage going forward.

I would also gently note that the briefing in Briefing Room B on the fourteenth of July lasted neither ninety nor ninety-one minutes, as your correspondents have variously claimed. I have consulted the room booking system. The room was booked for two hours. I am unable to confirm how long it actually ran, as the relevant calendar entry has since been deleted.

With kind regards,
Véronique Procédure
Communications Adviser
(writing in a personal capacity)

We thank Ms Procédure for her kind offer of a background briefing, which we are pleased to decline. We note that the calendar entry for the briefing has been deleted, and that Ms Procédure is unable to confirm how long it actually ran. Dr Ing Sachverständiger of Bonn, who has the agenda, has been informed.