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; European Committee of the Regions

        Younous OMARJEE, Vice-President of the European Parliament 

        Georgiana SIMA, County Councillor of Clujand and member of the CoR's Young Elected Politicians programme 

Moderator
        Emna CHAOUCH

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; European Committee of the Regions

        Younous OMARJEE, Vice-President of the European Parliament  

        Georgiana SIMA, County Councillor of Clujand and member of the CoR's Young Elected Politicians programme 

Moderator
        Emna CHAOUCH

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

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

European Committee of the Regions, JDE 52 / Webstreaming / EN-ES-FR-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 CZARZNSKA-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 

Webstreaming / EN-ES-FR-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 CZARZNSKA-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 

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
        Sebastian RODRIGUEZ, Campaign strategist; European Movement International and Founder; European Campaign Playbook

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

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

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

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 
      

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 

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

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

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

Web streaming / EN-FR-ES-IT 

Trust in communities, technology and institutions with 

        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)  

        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, European Commission's Directorate General for Communication 

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

Moderator

        Emna Chaouch  

ATRIUM 5

We are pleased to invite you to attend the Networking Lunch, offering a valuable opportunity to conclude the day with informal exchanges in a refined setting.