EuroPCom 2025

Watch EuroPCom opening session

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 52 (listening room JDE 51)

Web streaming, EN-FR-ES-IT

Introduction: 

• Jon ALEXANDER, Co-Founder, New Citizen Project 

Keynote:  

• Beth Simone NOVECK, Professor and Director, Burnes Center for Social Change; Northeastern University 

Opening speeches:  

• Kata TÜTTŐ, President of the European Committee of the Regions      
• Victor NEGRESCU, Vice-President of the European Parliament
• Georgiana SIMA, County Councillor of Cluj and member of the CoR's Young Elected Politicians programme

Moderator:   

• Emna CHAOUCH 

Watch the EuroPCom Talks 

European Committee of the Regions, JDE Atrium 5, web streaming, EN

In recent years, a significant proportion of the audience has turned to social and video networks for information about politics and news, as confirmed by the 2024 Reuters Digital News Reports.  Three inspiring influencers who stand out in this landscape have been invited to share their views and encourage the audience to discuss what trust means to them.  

Trust in communities   

• Colombe CAHEN-SALVADOR, Co-Founder; Atlas Movement   

Trust in technology  

• Karim HALLAL PECHE, YouTuber; El Viejo Continente   

Trust in institutions   

• Alice STOLLMEYER, Founder and Executive Director; Defend Democracy   

Moderator:   

• Emna CHAOUCH 

WORKSHOP 1 

Watch

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 52, web streaming, EN-FR-ES-IT

Cities and regions as trust builders: Shaping resilient democracies against disinformation  

In an era marked by growing political polarisation, the rapid spread of disinformation, and mounting geopolitical instability, fostering and maintaining trust in democratic institutions has never been more crucial. As the levels of government closest to the people, cities and regions are uniquely positioned to foster this trust. They can serve as key actors in promoting reliable information pathways, equipping their communities with concrete tools to navigate the digital landscape, and shaping resilient democracies from the ground up.  

Moderator:   

• Tony LOCKETT, Head of the Communication Unit; Directorate-General for Research and Innovation; European Commission  

Speakers:   

• Ana Catarina MENDES, Member of the European Parliament
• Mario SCHARFBILLIG, Science for Policy Analyst, Joint Research Centre; European Commission
• Federica CUNA, Provincial Councillor, Barletta – Andria and CoR member
• Martin PŘÍBORSKÝ, Member of Brno City Council and CoR member
• Patrik SCHWARCZ-KIEFER, Member of the County Council of Baranya Vármegye and CoR member
• Magdalena CZARZYNSKA-JACHIM, mayor of the city of Sopot and CoR member
• Stephen DE RON, Councilor of the Municipality of Hesperange and CoR member
• Juliane VON REPPERT-BISMARCK, Executive Director and Founder; Lie Detectors

IDEAS LAB 1

European Committee of the Regions, JDE Atrium 6

Micro and macro trust. We investigate trust in communities and institutions 

Through the presentation of case studies and experiences brought by the participants we would like to investigate 2 aspects:

1) the potential similarities and divergences between micro trust (community / personal relations) and macro trust (institution / transparent relations)

2) the emergence of a third type of trust (definable as “MESO”) that mediates between the micro and the macro.

The workshop will be conducted in an interactive manner starting with the presentation of international case studies and developing, with participants, participatory concept maps to focus on the key principles that enable the development of meso trust, a key fact for linking micro and macro trust. 

Facilitators:   

• Matteo BRAMBILLA, Founder; FROM – Moltiplichiamo valore pubblico  

• Arianna CAMPANILE, Project Manager and consultant; FROM - Moltiplichiamo valore pubblico

TRAINING 1

Watch

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 53 (listening room JDE 51), web streaming 

Trust-based advocacy campaigns: using AI to connect, mobilise and listen  

Community engagement is about creating meaningful connections, mobilising people and establishing lasting credibility. This training course will explore how communicators can design local-level campaigns that resonate and inspire action, building trust in the process. Using the European Campaign Playbook’s Advocacy Canvas methodology, participants will learn the key principles of trust-based campaigning through real-life examples and practical digital and AI-driven tools.  

Trainer:   

• Sebastián RODRÍGUEZ, Campaign strategist; European Movement International and Founder; European Campaign Playbook   

WORKSHOP 2

Watch

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 52 (listening room JDE 51), web streaming, EN-FR

Public Communication in the AI Age: Challenges and opportunities  

AI-driven technology is changing our world — and the way we communicate — at an astonishing rate. How will these technologies affect communication over the next 10 years? How can public institutions benefit from them, and how can we ensure that the transformative power of AI and data-driven policies is used for the greater good?  

Moderator:   

• Silke TOENSHOFF, Head of the Events and Local Dialogues Unit; European Committee of the Regions   

Speakers  

• Victor RIPARBELLI, CEO & Co-Founder; Synthesia  

• Martha GABRIEL, Professor of Artificial Intelligence; Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo  

• Claudio CERASA, Editor-in-chief; Il Foglio

IDEAS LAB 2

European Committee of the Regions, JDE Atrium 6

Reskilling for trust in innovation    

AI is transforming public communication, acting as both a disruptor and an enabler. Public communicators must therefore actively engage with AI tools and their creators. But how can public institutions build the right skills and capabilities to leverage AI responsibly? This Ideas Lab focuses on equipping public communicators with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively integrate AI tools into their work. This enhances their ability to craft compelling narratives and engage diverse audiences. Through interactive activities and practical exercises, participants will discover how AI can streamline communication processes, enhance content creation and improve strategic messaging in the public sphere.  

Facilitators:   

• Simon PIATEK, Director; New Imagination Lab  

• Alicja DRYIA, MPA candidate in Climate, Innovation and Sustainability Policy; University College London and Co-founder; Zryw Foundation 

TRAINING 2

Watch

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 53 (listening room JDE 63), web streaming

Simulation game on disinformation and information threats   

In this interactive simulation, Operation National Resilience, participants will confront the challenge of Russian Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) directly. As part of a national task force protecting 'Member State Y' during the critical 2025 European elections, participants will use Osavul, an advanced AI platform, to: - detect and analyse fast-evolving information threats;  

- uncover complex disinformation tactics and the actors behind them;  

- navigate challenging ethical dilemmas in real time.  

- strategise and decide on effective countermeasures to protect democratic integrity.  

Trainer:   

• Dmytro BILASH, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer; Osavul   

• Carine VAN DEN PUTTE, Head of Business Development Europe; Osavul

WORKSHOP 3

Watch

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 52, web streaming, EN-FR

Revitalizing Trust: Innovative Approaches for Public Institutions  

In an era of technological advancements and societal shifts, the evolving landscape of trust in institutions makes the role of public communicators increasingly crucial in fostering transparency and credibility. This workshop will explore the future of trust in institutions, examining how public communicators can navigate the many challenges and build stronger relationships between organisations and the public.  

Moderator:  

• Carlotta ALFONSI, Policy Analyst for Public Communication and Access to Information, Public Governance Directorate; OECD  

Speakers:  

• Nathaniel HILL, Director and Head of Strategy; M&C Saatchi World  

• Elizabeth FRY, Head of Communications Analysis and Assessment; SHAPE/NATO  

• Simona MUTEANU, Senior Adviser, OECD Accession Office and Public Sector Innovation; General Secretariat of the Government of Romania

IDEAS LAB 3

European Committee of the Regions, JDE Atrium 6

Building trust through stories: the strategic use of testimonials in communication  

How can testimonials be used to enhance engagement and shift perceptions? This Idea Lab explores the strategic use of real people's real voices in institutional communication campaigns, focusing on their ability to build emotional resonance and trust.  

Facilitators:  

• Philipp M. SCHULMEISTER, Director for Campaigns, Directorate-General for Communication; European Parliament

• Giulia BUSOLIN, Public Relations Assistant; Civil Society Outreach unit, Directorate-General for Communication, European Parliament

• Albrecht JOHN, Civil Society Outreach Unit, Directorate-General for     Communication; European Parliament

• Ringaile RAZAUSKIENE, Civil Society Outreach Unit, Directorate-General for Communication; European Parliament

TRAINING 3

Watch

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 53, web streaming

Trust in institutions and social media  

This practical session provides public sector communicators with the tools and strategies they need to build trust with citizens through social media. Using the Know, Like, Trust model and the Triangle of Trust (authenticity, logic, and empathy), participants will learn to humanise their messaging, communicate clearly, and engage empathetically.  

Trainer:   

• Katarzyna KOWALEWSKA, Social Media & Communications Consultant   

SPECIAL SESSION

Watch

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 51, web streaming

How to keep trust in journalism in the age of AI?  

News media has faced crisis after crisis since the dawn of the internet: the decline of print subscriptions; the rise of social media and fake news; and now generative AI, which some fear will eat and replace journalism. This crisis of confidence has led to a return to caring about building and holding trust with the reader. This session will look over the different ways that news media demonstrate trust, and consider how AI can be harnessed in a way that helps media without eroding trust.  

Trainer:   

• Chris POWERS, Head of Audience & Newsroom Innovation; Euractiv   

Watch EuroPCom closing session

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 52 (listening room JDE 51), web streaming, EN-FR-ES-IT

Video message by:

• Heike RAAB, State Secretary for Europe and Media of Rhineland - Palatinate and Chair of the CoR's Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC)   

Interventions by:

• Aurel Laurenţiu PLOSCEANU, Vice-President in charge of Communication; European Economic and Social Committee  

• Elina ROINE, Deputy Director-General of the Operations Directorate; European Investment Bank 

• Sophia Eriksson WATERSCHOOT, Deputy Director-General, Directorate General for Communication, European Commission 

• Nicole BAYER, Director for Communication and Media, Council of the European Union

Moderator:   

• Emna CHAOUCH