Session I - Strategic Communication on the EU Issues and Cooperation with the Civil Society

In light of the recent, full-scale Russian information war offensive, a concept of strategic communication gained completely new dimension. It is not a mere tool for long term policy planning, rather, modern strategic communication became the only effective mechanism of countering deceptive messages, falsified facts and distorted realities. Russian information propaganda is directed at justification of its aggressive actions against sovereign European nations and aims to infiltrate sense of insecurity within population of Europe and beyond. Despite the fact that strategic communications had already become an integral component of EU`s and EaP countries policy planning the role of the strategic communications in the modern era of the hybrid warfare needs to be further increased. In order to effectively address contemporary challenges affecting European peace and stability it is necessary to improve strategic communications at the European level, enhance information and experience sharing mechanisms, develop common positions,  create a network of public diplomacy experts and engage in more robust communication strategies to fight growing anti-western propaganda