26. 3. 2023 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR, Strategic Communication
The rapid development of digital communication technology impacts our lives in myriad ways. It does not seem so far ago when we were faxing long press releases to journalists to where we are now when 280 characters can do the same job, occasionally with an even more significant impact. Digital communications and social media are transforming pillars of a democratic society. It is more important than ever for governments to understand their responsibilities and roles in ensuring that their institutions are prepared to adapt and adopt new practices to cement their place within this new digital information economy.
That is why representatives from 19 countries convened to ensure that they, together, are ready to rise to any and all resulting challenges. The participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine joined us in Portorož for 4-day long training from March 21st to 24th within the scope of European Digital Diplomacy Exchange project.
The training titled »Turning Practice into Strategy, Structures, and Systems” focused on retrieving already obtained digital communication skills, as well as polishing and advancing them. Various international speakers coming from the US State Department, the Slovenian government, the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NATO spoke to us about digital rhetoric, marketing public affairs, nation branding, the importance of the audience approach as well as social listening and performance analysis. Crisis communication was also addressed, as well as how to counter disinformation and design digital strategies and ways of cooperation within governments, ministries and embassies.
There were quite a few practical exercises during the training, through which participants put their theoretical knowledge into practice – by preparing a digital strategy that will be of help when establishing a national digital strategy. A very important part of the training was time to connect and network, and the participants made the most of it.
The project is a result of cooperation between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, and the Centre for European Perspective.
The project is partially financed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the scope of the program activities of international development cooperation.
24. 3. 2023 | POTC, PR
The past week, POTC successfully organised the 3-day Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Operations and Missions training course, which officially concluded on April 23. This was the fifth edition of the training under the auspices of POTC.
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku.
Participants from Slovenia and elsewhere in Europe were engaged in a stimulating multi-day training course that aimed to inform and educate about gender equality and gender mainstreaming in international missions and operations.
The focus of the gender mainstreaming course was primarily on:
- learning and understanding the concept of gender, sexual differences, biological and social determinants
- knowing and understanding the different consequences and outcomes that gender identity and sexual orientation have on people living in conflict zones
- getting to know the international legal framework that ensures gender equality in international operations and missions
- learning about the concrete tools and approaches for gender mainstreaming in international missions and operations
- practical mission knowledge from experienced trainers on the topic
The lecturers and participants all contributed to a fruitful and informative course that will hopefully impact peace operations and other areas of work in a positive and balancing manner.
We wish to thank everyone involved and look forward to our next courses!
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24. 3. 2023 | EUCTI, POTC, PR
Kliknite tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku
This Wednesday, February 22nd, Jable Castle was visited by military attachés accredited to or working in Slovenia. The visit was organised by the Defence Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Defence.
Nina Čepon, CEP Acting Executive Director, and Markko Kallonnen, EUCTI Project Coordinator, both presented the work of POTC, EUCTI and CEP in a productive and insightful visit of military attachés. They mentioned both the activities of CEP as a whole as well as the civilian crisis management sectors, concretely EUCTI and POTC. The presentations concluded with a fruitful Q&A session where questions were answered, and opinions were shared.
At the end of the presentations, Colonel Mitja Miklavec of the Bilateral and Multilateral Affairs Division of the Defence Policy Directorate from the Slovenian MOD gave some concluding remarks, thanked the hosts, and highlighted the refreshing work that POTC is doing, combining the visions of the three ministries. He also shared his thought that »POTC is linking us together for future activities« in the sense that attaché networking benefits all partner countries moving forward.
The visit formally concluded with a networking coffee break.
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20. 3. 2023 | PR, Transformative Power of Digital
CEP, Atlantic Council and the Kosciuszko Institute are delighted to invite you to a panel discussion
Digital Partnerships: How to Forge an Advanced European Future
Wednesday, March 22 | 11.30 CET
Register here to join via Zoom
While Covid exposed the EU’s vulnerabilities, the war in Ukraine heightened the urge to solve them – from infrastructure, cybersecurity, disinformation, and defence shortcomings. This especially holds true for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which bear the brunt of Russian cyberattacks and other malicious digital intents.
As outlined in two recent reports from the Atlantic Council and the Centre for European Perspective – “Strategic Partnership for a Secure and Digital Europe” and “Digital Sovereignty in Practice” – to address these issues and ensure European values are respected in the digital world, a like-minded and values-based partnership is a priority, and strong and stable transatlantic exchanges are indispensable. It is paramount that the countries of CEE deepen their cooperation within the region while at the same time strengthening their voice within the EU and with the US.
The panel will address the following questions:
What are the main digital challenges that CEE and the EU are facing now? What mechanisms for cooperation exist within the CEE, and how can such cooperation on digital issues be enhanced? Do any best practices exist? How do we shape a specific, action-oriented agenda for transatlantic digital cooperation to ensure a tangible strategic partnership around digital policy?
Joining us to address these questions are speakers:
- Dr Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Minister for Digital Transformation of the Republic of Slovenia
- Mr Janusz Cieszyński, Secretary of State and Government Plenipotentiary for Cyber Security of the Republic of Poland
- Marta Poslad, Director of Public Policy, Central and Eastern Europe at Google
- Ewelina Kasprzyk, Program Director at the Kościuszko Institute
You can join us live over Zoom by registering here or following our social media accounts as the video of the session will be published after the discussion.
17. 3. 2023 | EUCTI, PR
As an active European Union Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI) Consortium partner, the Centre for European Perspective joined the EUCTI Partner and Planning meeting between 13 and 15 March in Brussels. As was the case during the last such meeting in November 2022, the project partners (alongside CEP: ACP from Austria, the Clingendael Institute from the Netherlands, CMC Finland, Egmont Institute from Belgium, FBA from Sweden, SSSA from Italy and ZIF Berlin) were joined by the representatives of relevant EU structures. Additionally, representatives of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and interested partners of the recently finished EUPCST project attended the meeting.
Even before the double P (Planning and Partner) meeting, CEP attended the European Union Civilian Training Group (EUCTG) meeting on 13 March in its capacity as the EU Civilian Coordinator for Training (CCT) and National Training Expert (NTE – together with Slovenian Police). As CCT, CEP prepared a Training Requirement Analysis on Communicational, Behavioral and Cultural Skills in 2021. One of the meeting topics was also the future of Foreign Policy Instrument-funded training projects, which corresponds with the EUCTI project.
The suggestions and insights from the EUCTG meeting represented a necessary basis for the discussion on the future of EUCTI, held during the double P meeting between 14 and 15 March. CEP actively participated in this discussion and expressed reiterated support for the project and a wish to remain an engaged partner in the next project phase.
In May, CEP will implement advanced Digital Communications training for European Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). Details will follow soon.
For more information about EUCTI and the meeting, click on the EUCTI logo below.
13. 3. 2023 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR, Strategic Communication
More than ever, the unstable and uncertain times call for effective and trustworthy communication from governments and institutions. They are under enormous pressure to introduce and communicate policy initiatives under extraordinary circumstances while simultaneously competing with the flooding of misinformation and disinformation. Digital capabilities and strategic thinking have undoubtedly become the core of governments’ communications and public affairs operations.
Once again, European Digital Diplomacy Exchange will gather government communicators for a 4-day training, where they will be polishing their digital communication competencies. Participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine will join us in Portorož from 21 to 24 March.
The theme of this training will be “Turning Practice into Strategy, Structures, and Systems.” With the focus on returning participants, we will be shifting our attention to how participants can translate the skills they have developed during previous workshops into policies, protocols, and procedures that will foster institutional systems that better enable digital strategic communications practices. Participants will learn from experts in this field and participate in practical exercises that will provide tangible, workable solutions to their home ministries.
The project is a result of cooperation between the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, and the Centre for European Perspective.
The project is partially financed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the scope of the program activities of international development cooperation.
Klikni tukaj za več informacij o projektnih aktivnosti v slovenščini.
