Strategic Communication Factfinding Trip for Experts from Southeast Europe to Berlin and Brussels

The Factfinding Trip brought together nine participants from different countries - Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania and Serbia.  Representing both state institutions and non-governmental organizations, the participants contributed to a comprehensive exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices drawing on their professional experiences and national contexts.

In Berlin, discussions were held with the German Foreign Intelligence Service, the German Bundestag, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Federal Academy for Security Policy and Table.Media. In Brussels, the group met with representatives of NATO, the Bulgarian and German Permanent Representatives to NATO and experts from the European External Action Service.

One of the most important conclusions of the Factfinding Trip was that the concept of “hybrid” warfare no longer captures the scale and nature of the security threats that Europe is facing. Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions extend further and affect a growing number of countries. The recent escalation in the Black Sea, including attacks on commercial vessels in and near Bulgarian and Romanian waters, illustrates how these threats are spreading geographically. The discussions in Berlin and Brussels highlighted the need to reassess existing threat perceptions, strengthen European resilience and preparedness, and recognize that strategic communication is not only about countering disinformation, but an essential component of responding to an increasingly complex and dangerous security environment.