On Tuesday, 28 June 2022 from 14:00 to 17:00, the European Movement International held a panel discussion entitled “Listen to Europe – Reaching Beyond Our Echo Chambers” at Atelier 29 (Rue Jacques de Lalaing 29, 1000 Brussels).

The event was organised with the kind support of the European Parliament and the Open Society Foundation, as concluding activity of the Listen to Europe project which aims to build strategic communications capacity and positively influence public narratives in Europe and about Europe and democracy.

In the last years, we have been applying the evidence-based strategic communications approach in trying to engage and positively influence persuadable and middle audience in EU member states while also working with the European and local civil society to increase their impact and outreach. The approach is based on strategic framing, values-based message development, focus group and online message-testing, polling-based audience segmentation, media landscape mapping from social listening research, evidence-based audience building, and audience targeting.

Agenda

14:00-14:15: Introductions & Welcome

Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General, European Movement International
Tasos Georgiou, Head of the Civil Society Outreach Unit, (Directorate for Campaigns – DG COMM), European Parliament

14:15-15:30: Presentation of the opinion poll data, by Matthew MacWilliams, Expert on authoritarianism, Lead Pollster & Analyst for the ‘Listen to Europe’ opinion polls

15:30-15:45: Coffee Break

15:45-17:00: Panel Discussion – The value of data driven campaigns in a European context, and how to mobilise the broader public for the European elections

Christian Skrivervik, Head of Press and Communication, European Movement International
Tom Moylan, Advisor to Director General for Communication, European Commission
Sam Lockwood, Founder of Brand Response

Moderated by Maja Bobić, Head of Projects & Fundraising, European Movement International

The final event featured a presentation of the opinion poll data by Matthew MacWilliams and a panel with experts, campaigners and decision makers discussing the value of data driven campaigns in a European context and how to mobilise the broader public for the European elections. We aimed to discuss how to communicate with Europeans more effectively, reach out and engage them in addressing common challenges of our time.