June 2025 Updates
NEW! EU Communications Academy, Brussels 29 Sept.– Register now!
‘Cutting through for the public interest’, our first EU Communications Academy, will take place in Brussels on 29 September. This one-day training will explore what effective communications look like at the EU level, and what it takes for public interest advocacy to stand out. It is designed for anyone looking to better understand EU-level public interest communications and sharpen their core skills.
The training will cover the ‘essentials’ of effective advocacy communications: media relations, online influencing, and clear writing. We’ll delve into the unique challenges of communicating around EU decision-making, offering practical insights, tips, and tools to help you cut through the noise.
Join Fran Gater, our communications expert, Kasia Kowalewska, a social media strategist, and insiders from the EU media bubble on 29 September in Brussels. Find out all the details, download the programme and register here.
Meet Francesca Gater, EU Changer’s new Communications lead
We’re thrilled to welcome Francesca Gater to the EUChanger team as our Communications lead. Fran brings a wealth of experience from strategic communications roles at the EU level, having worked with leading think tanks, NGOs, and the European Parliament. Her work has spanned critical areas such as climate, nature, resource use, corporate power, and democracy—always with a strong focus on advocacy communications. Currently, Francesca leads communications at the ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies, where she helps shape the narrative around new economic policy ideas. Learn more about us!
Supporting Russian anti-war and pro-democracy initiatives
In March, we gave a two-day training to members of Platforma International, a network of over 80 Russian organisations and activists advocating for an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine and for democracy and human rights in Russia. We were impressed by their determination to continue their struggle for a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Russia even in very challenging circumstances. The training focussed on how to effectively engage with EU decision-makers in two policy areas: the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and EU migration and asylum policies. Josephine Liebl, Head of Advocacy at the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), was part of the trainers’ team.
Platforma International training, 24-25 March, Brussels
‘Taming the MFF monster’ with CAN Europe
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, held its largest General Assembly ever during the first week of May in Brussels with organisations from all across Europe attending. This meeting is taking place at a time when NGOs are facing threats across Europe and around the world, including disinformation-fuelled attacks and deliberate attempts to cut funding and suppress public participation. CAN Europe used the gathering to send a clear message to EU decision makers: safeguard climate action and protect the democratic foundations that enable it.
Getting the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) right is key to deliver on the EU’s climate goals without cutting back on other essential social and development objectives. On day 1 of the gathering we gave a training on ‘Taming the MFF Monster’. It looked at what is at stake in the EU long-term budget, analysed the current institutional and political context, picked apart the key elements of the complex package of proposals and put forward recommendations for a strategic approach for public interest organisations.
Find out more about our tailored trainings.
EU Advocacy Academy: meet the new alumni and mark your calendar for the next one on 26-27 November
The 13th edition of our EU Advocacy Academy took place in Brussels on 14-15 May. We were once again incredibly fortunate to welcome an amazing group of public interest advocates from across Europe. Meet some of them: Justine Okolodkoff of Règles élémentaires & Matthijs Germs of Verdante. Read their blogs here
The next edition of the EU Advocacy Academy will take place in Brussels on 26-27 November. This two-day interactive training aims to help those working for the public good across Europe to enhance their understanding of EU decision-making processes and their influencing skills. Find out more here. Registrations will open by the end of September; to stay informed, register to our updates here.
Have you tried our EU Advocacy Toolbox yet?
Our EU Advocacy Toolbox can help you to quickly find essential information. Use a term search of apply filters such as “Access documents,” “Identify decision-makers,” or “Map interest groups.”
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