Geopolitical turmoil at Europe's door: the perspective of civil society

XV Connecting EU Seminar - 24-25 November 2022 - Hotel Dubrovnik| Ljudevita Gaja 1, Zagreb

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), in partnership with the Economic and Social Council of Croatia (GSV), is organising its annual Civil Society Communication seminar, #ConnectingEU2022, on 24-25 November 2022, on: Geopolitical turmoil at Europe's door: the perspective of civil society

The Connecting EU seminar for civil society communicators will zoom in on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the EU, and will explore its likely repercussions in the near and more distant future. It will address three thorny issues: the future of EU enlargement, energy security, and the strategic role of communication in war, with a special focus on Ukraine.

The event will be opened by EESC President Christa Schweng and President of the Economic and Social Council (GSV) and Croatian Minister for Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, Marin Piletić.

The seminar's keynote speaker will be Galia Ackerman, French-Russian writer, journalist and historian. Considered one of the best French experts on post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine, Ms Ackerman will deliver the speech "How did the West make a mistake about Vladimir Putin?"

PANELS

The Connecting EU seminar will feature three panels:

5. In the shadow of war: Europe's new geopolitical context and consequences for the future of the EU;
6. Communication in times of crisis;
7. The energy revolution between the war and climate objectives, and challenges to the Green Deal.

SPEAKERS

• Régis Genté, journalist and co-author of the book Volodymyr Zelensky: in the mind of a hero.
• Viktoria Romaniuk, deputy editor-in-chief of StopFake.org and deputy director of Kyiv's Mohyla School of Journalism.
• Tim Weber, executive director and head of editorial at Edelman UK, former business and technology editor of BBC Online, and expert in Russian disinformation.
• Dušan Gajić, Correspondent for RTS – Serbia's public broadcaster, and author of numerous award-winning documentaries (The Graduates, The Promise, The Long Road through Balkan History).
• Zion Lights, author and climate activist, and former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson.
• Augustin Palokaj, Brussels correspondent and columnist for Croatian national daily newspaper Jutarnji list.
• Christine Dugoin-Clément, geo-political analyst, associate researcher, and "standards and risks" chair at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
• Marika Djolai, key expert at Particip GmbH, and in research and policy at Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG).
• Adnan Ćerimagić, senior analyst for the Western Balkans, European Stability Initiative.
• Jaroslaw Pietras, energy specialist, visiting fellow at the Wilfried Martens Centre, and former Director General in the Council of the EU.
• Leila Bičakčić, Director at Centre for Investigative Reporting, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Igor Grozdanić, energy expert and researcher.
• Clare Taylor, science communicator and analyst specialised in energy and environment.

The full line up and detailed information about the speakers are available on our web page.

The event will be webstreamed.

Full programme here.

The aim of the Connecting EU seminar is to offer a platform where press and communication professionals from civil society organisations can network while discussing current issues of common concern affecting Europe. It brings together EESC members and other EU representatives, partner organisations from Member States, journalists and researchers to debate the hot issues of the day.

The EESC invites all interested media to follow the seminar and publish its conclusions.

The event is organised in collaboration with the European Parliament Office in Croatia and the European Commission Representation in Zagreb, who will also speak at the event.