Katarzyna Kowalewska

your job won't be replaced by #AI, but by one of the many public affairs professionals who now consciously use it every day. that's according to the Dober Partners' guide to EU Public affairs 2024-2025, in collaboration with UNICEF. link in comment 78% of those surveyed responded that they are now consciously using AI. the same figure was only 39% last year. this shows that our industry remains innovative and an early adopted of new technologies. and some non-minor role goes to the people who've actually trained fellow professionals in the EU bubble on how to use this technology in an ethical and effective way credit goes to Jacques Foul and Andras Baneth with their (I heard) excellent in-person workshops. and also humbly to the work we've done with the european campaign playbook. let's keep it up, so much work to do! #ArtificialIntelligence #GenerativeAI

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What stands in the way of the implementation of #supportedemploynent policies for #peoplewithdisability? At the Athens EASPD - European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities conference, the message is clear: we need true partnerships with all stakeholders and… governments need to honestly review some of their policies because though some of them sound good, they don’t always include people with #disability and are not always implemented!! Which governments really checks their accountability?

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EU grants available for media, universities, communications agencies, and public and private entities! To support media activities focused on Cohesion Policy, the EU invites media outlets, universities, communication agencies, and both private and public entities to submit their proposals for producing editorially independent content on the subject. Selected projects will receive grants covering 80% of their costs, with funding of up to €200,000 available for each beneficiary. 188 media organisations and other entities have already been financed through this call to produce press articles, videos, physical or online events, radio coverage, TV shows, social media and other creative communication projects. In this way the Commission provides much-needed financing for media in exchange for editorially independent reporting about Cohesion Policy. Our democracies rely on a free, independent press, and Cohesion Policy is in place to support and strengthen it.

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This week, the last Recovery and Resilience Dialogue of this parliamentary term took place in the competent Committees (BUDG and ECON) of the EP. Members discussed with the European Commission inter alia the latest progress on implementation of the recovery and resilience plans, the mid-term assessment of the RRF by the Commission, and preliminary lessons to be drawn for the future. During the 9th legislative term, the competent committees held 15 Recovery and Resilience Dialogues with the Commission, 10 Economic Dialogues with the Commission, 9 Economic Dialogues with the Council, and 6 Economic Dialogues with the Eurogroup. https://lnkd.in/giiYtZ9

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🇪🇺 Strategic Takeaways from the EP Plenary Debate with #Orban: A Political Analyst's Perspective Today's European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg offered a stark reminder of the challenges facing European democracy. As a political strategist, I observed several key dynamics that deserve our attention—and ultimately, the attention of everyone in the progressive sphere: 1. The Danger of Whataboutism 🚫 When confronted with legitimate concerns about democratic backsliding, Orban and his allies often resort to "whataboutism." They deflect criticism by pointing fingers at "green ideologies" or other issues. This logical fallacy derails meaningful debate and must be recognized and countered. 2. Reclaiming the Narrative 📢 It's crucial that we don't merely react to their agenda. Debunking falsehoods is necessary but insufficient. We must proactively shape the discourse by: - Consistently pushing our priorities (e.g., rule of law, press freedom, climate policy) - Developing clear, compelling frames in order to make our agenda understandable. As George Lakoff explains in "Don't Think of an Elephant!": "Frames are mental structures that shape the way we see the world" (Lakoff, 2004). 2) The Power of Democratic Resilience 💪 Perhaps the most poignant moment came when Ilaria Salis, recently released, openly criticized Orban – her former jailer – who sat just meters away. This embodies the essence of democracy: the ability to speak truth to power without fear of reprisal. It's a testament to the values we must fiercely protect. As we navigate these turbulent political waters, let's remember: democracy thrives on informed, engaged citizens and leaders committed to its core principles. Our challenge is to make these abstract concepts tangible and relevant to everyday Europeans. What strategies do you think are most effective in countering democratic backsliding? How can we better communicate the importance of rule of law to a broader audience? Share your thoughts below! #EuropeanDemocracy #RuleOfLaw #PoliticalStrategy #EuropeanParliament

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Are you curious about the latest updates on how the EU is working to ensure safer and empowered EU citizens & consumers rights? ⚖️ Follow EU Rights! ⬇️

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ONE IN THREE WOMEN EXPERIENCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE — report. Today's launch of the EU Gender-Based Violence survey is an important milestone in the struggle to end violence against women. "This is the result of a long journey. Data is needed by our policymakers. This survey covers the whole of the EU," says Christine Wirtz, director of Eurostat. "One-in-three women across the EU have experienced sexual violence...the figures are higher for young women." The report is a joint project with European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and European Institute for Gender Equality. #EndGBV #GenderEquality #EUGBVSurvey2024

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Our Democracy Story Unit is thinking about the fragility of democracy and the power of stories. Have a read of our recent article in Witten Lab Magazine: https://lnkd.in/g85TyezK At Doc Society, we know independent media is essential to democracy. It's our tool to enable citizens to hold governments accountable by providing truthful, public-interest information. Yet, media capture has become a common tactic for authoritarians - like we've seen in India, Hungary, and beyond. While rampant disinformation is eroding trust, independent journalists and storytellers continue to fight back, sculpting authentic stories that challenge power and uplift communities. To urgently protect our delicate democracies, we must build resilient media infrastructures that resist political and corporate pressures. "The future is yet to be written..."

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How European parliament fights disinformation?🔗⬇️ 🔵MEPs have adopted a number of legislative acts that aim to protect EU citizens and societies from disinformation and foreign interference. 🔵The Digital Services Act includes obligations for online platforms to fight disinformation and ensure a transparent and safe online environment for users. 🔵New transparency rules for politcal advertising ban sponsoring ads from outside the EU ahead of elections. 🔵The world’s first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence (AI) protects fundamental rights in the EU and counters disinformation by introducing transparency requirements for AI-generated content. 🔵Parliament also adopted new rules to defend journalists against abusive lawsuits and strengthened provisions to shield the media from political interference. 🔵To better protect the European Parliament from foreign actors seeking to influence its work, MEPs adopted reforms strengthening the integrity, independence and accountability of the institution. #information #medyaliteracy #disinfo #fakenews #europe #eu #democracy

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Check out new resolution and recommendation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe calling for more robust laws to better protect #children online by reducing their exposure to harmful content online while not infringing on their opportunities to benefit from the internet. Among other things, PACE urged European governments to: 🔒 require age verification for non-child websites 🚫 ban harmful "deepfakes" and ensure their removal from digital platforms 🏫 implement school-based programs for child protection 📚 implement comprehensive sexuality education 🔍 set up "hash databases" to identify and locate children subject to sexual exploitation or abuse 🤝 collaborate with tech industry players evelop policies to address cyberbullying, harassment and online hatred, and build in default safety features to products for children. PACE also called on countries that haven't done so yet to accede to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse - #CoE_Lanzarote Convention and Convention on #cybercrime (Budapest Convention). Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/e-cZUfNN #childrights #childprotection #OnlineSafety

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🔵 In a special session, we were briefed on the calendar and priorities for the forthcoming legislative period as official European Parliament's communication partners. Big thanks to Philipp Schulmeister and the DG COMM and DG PRESS teams. European Commission Council of the European Union European Parliament European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) European Labour Authority Eurofound CES - ETUC Eurocadres SMEunited BusinessEurope #UseYourVote #UseYourLeadership #Democracy #Communication #EU2024 #Turnout #PoliticalComms #EuropeanUnion ⤵

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📰 €3.5 million for media campaigns on EU Cohesion Policy - Submit your proposal to the call European Commission department for Regional Policy (EU Funds) has launched its 8th call for proposals aimed at supporting media activities focused on Cohesion Policy. Backed by a total budget of €3.5 million, this initiative invites media outlets, universities, communication agencies, and both private and public entities to submit their proposals for producing editorially independent content on the subject. Selected projects will receive grants covering 80% of their costs, with funding of up to €200,000 available for each beneficiary. Over the past seven years almost EUR 40 million in financing has been granted to 188 media organisations and other entities through this call. The projects financed include press articles, videos, physical or online events, radio coverage, TV shows, social media and other creative communication projects. Here some examples: https://lnkd.in/eWePgwkX Applications should be made through the funding portal before the deadline of 07 January 2025, 17:00 CET. https://lnkd.in/eubXPqd5

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📅 Save the Date: 16-17 October 2024 🕒 Time: 18:30 - 20:00 📍 Location: FEPS HQ, Avenue des Arts 46, Brussels 1000 On 16 October 2024, FEPS Europe, together with @Brussels Labour, TASC - Think-tank for Action on Social Change, and FES London, will present two important papers from the "Beyond the Border: The Implications of Brexit for the Island of Ireland" project. These studies dive into the political landscape of Northern Ireland post-Brexit, offering insights into diverse stakeholder views and the crucial role the EU continues to play as a peace guarantor. With a new political chapter on the horizon—Labour potentially returning to power in the UK and a fresh legislative period in the EU—this discussion is more relevant than ever. We’ll explore what needs to be done to successfully implement the Windsor Framework and improve Northern Ireland’s political and socio-economic situation Check out more ℹ️ here: https://lnkd.in/e6YrtsED

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🇲🇿 📢 #EU Election Observation Mission 2024 's third post-election press statement Download it here 👇: https://shorturl.at/bv4Mr Terceira declaração pós-eleitoral à imprensa da MOE UE Moçambique Encontre-a aqui 👇: https://shorturl.at/SvMb7 🖹 Press Statement Maputo, 25 October 2024 - The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Mozambique takes note of the results of elections that were announced yesterday by the National Election Commission (CNE). The results announcement by the CNE has not dispelled the EU EOM’s concerns regarding the transparency of the counting and tabulation process. The EU EOM calls once again the electoral bodies for the maximum transparency, reiterating the request of publishing the disaggregated results by polling station, and the Constitutional Council to appropriately address the challenges brought forward by different parties. The EU EOM condemns the violent dispersal of demonstrators and the political violence of the last days. The mission urges respect for fundamental freedoms and the right of peaceful assembly and calls on all parties to refrain from violence. All statements here 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/dKJTmJ-t

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Why is storytelling such a powerful tool in migration communication? How can it influence perceptions and policies? And what best practices ensure impactful narratives? 🌍 📚 Dive into the publication "Storytelling as Strategic Communication on Migration" by Dr. James Dennison, developed as part of the Euromed Migration (EMM) studies in collaboration with the European University Institute Migration Policy Centre's Observatory on Public Attitudes to Migration (OPAM), as part of our ongoing efforts to highlight the role of 🟡 #Communication in driving #MigrationCapacityPartnerships 🟡 This study delves into the unique ability of storytelling to capture attention, foster empathy, and enhance credibility in migration discourse. By synthesizing academic insights and providing real-world examples, it identifies seven best practices to guide communicators in crafting narratives that resonate. 📖 Learn more about storytelling in migration communication—read the full report available here: https://lnkd.in/dzDEZFQ #MigrationNarratives #StrategicCommunication

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🌍 Who holds the real influence in EU decision-making? Biases are everywhere—even in Brussels. A recent study shows how factors like gender and national origin shape access to EU policymakers, raising a critical question: do all Public Affairs teams have an equal chance to make an impact? Discover the surprising dynamics at play and what this means for the future of EU advocacy. 👇 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ee23JZ3h

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Most importantly apply common sense.

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📍 Tomorrow in plenary, MEPs will debate with the European Commission about the importance of media pluralism and independent journalism in the face of rising #disinformation. Our EPRS briefing gives you an overview of the key challenges, actors and the EU's evolving response to information manipulation. 📝 Read it below 👇 🔗 https://europa.eu/!RBQ3gP

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Tomorrow in plenary, MEPs will debate with the European Commission about the importance of media pluralism and independent journalism in the face of rising #disinformation. Our EPRS briefing gives you an overview of the key challenges, actors and the EU's evolving response to information manipulation. 📝 Read it below 👇 🔗 https://europa.eu/!RBQ3gP #Disinformation #EuropeanCommission #Media #Pluralism #CenterforEuropeanStudies #ChristUniversityLavasa

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