01 Dec “Communicating Europe – Making the EU Understandable” project: Brussels study trip
Our project “Communicating Europe- Making the EU understandable” was concluded in Brussels with a study trip organised is partnership with Центр “Нова Європа”/New Europe Center and the Brussel Office of EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy.
The program started on Monday, 27th November when in the morning participants received an introductory briefing from our expert, Eszter Zalán. The day continued with participating at the mid-day briefing of the European Commission. Following the briefing Maja Kocijancic, Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs&Security Policy, European Neighbourhood Policy&Enlargement Negotiations informed participants on the results of the Eastern Partnership Summit, on how to get proper and verified information on EU, on the prospects of the relations with Ukraine and on the operation of the EU-Ukraine Task Force. After a quick lunch journalists had a meeting with Michael Dóczy, Member of the Cabinet of Johannes Hahn (European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy). The day was concluded with an informal dinner with correspondents from Central European journals and news agencies. The journalists received a thorough insightin the daily life of correspondants and practicl informations on how to report EU related issues by Tomasz Bielecki (Gazeta Wyborcza, Deutsche Welle), and Jakub Dospiva (CTK).
On the second day of the Brussels Study trip the journalists met in the morning with Jakub Kalensky from European External Action Service – EEAS. Mr. Kalensky described the operation of the East StratCom Task Force and how to fight against russian disinfo campaigns. During his presentation he demonstrated the various methods of EEAS on raising the public’s attention on russian disinformation cases.
In the eary afternoon the participants had meetings in the European Parliament. First with Tamás Meszerics, Hungarian MEP, Greens/EFA in the European Parliament met the group and discussed Hungary related issues in the EP. They had an iteractive and vivid conversation about Hungarian politics and the governmental system of Hungary. At the second meeting with Dita Charanzová, a Czech MEP from ALDE Group – Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament described why it is so hard to communicate positive news on the EU and on the work of the European Parliament, as media tends to prefer only negative ones. On the questions of the Ukrainian journalists she expressed her predicts and thoughts on the outcome of Czech elections.
Following the Parliament the day was concluded with a meeting with Jaroslav Zajicek, Deputy Head of the Czech Mission to the EU and Petr Janoušek, Spokesperson of the Mission. They introduced the V4 coopreation within the European Union and enlighted the participants on the general operation of a Permanent Representation to the EU.
On the last day of Brussels trip of the “Communicating Europe- Making the EU understandable” project journalists met Maria Freitas and Alain Bloedt from FEPS. They have introduced the “Millenial Dialogue Report” on new political movements, Millennial political engagement, populism and renewal of social democracy. Following the meeting participants had the chance to have a discussion with Bart Szewcyk from European Political Strategy Centre (of the European Commission). He introduced the work of the Centre, discussed key developments related to Ukraine and the EaP. Mr. Szewcyk also had a dialogue with the journalists on how can we efficiently support Ukraine.
Photos of the tour can be seen on our flickr account.
Our partners in this project:
The project is funded by:
