Footage obtained by POLITICO shows the journalist, Daniël Verlaan of RTL Nieuws, appearing in a large window at the top of the videoconference screen, dressed in a black T-shirt, grinning and waving to the ministers.

„You know that you have been jumping into a secret conference?“ EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told Verlaan, amid laughter from some officials.

„Yes, yes. I‘m sorry. I‘m a journalist from the Netherlands. I‘m sorry for interrupting your conference,“ a smiling Verlaan replied.