The enormous challenges posed for Europe by Russia's aggression were the subject of the EESC's annual seminar for civil society communicators, entitled "Geopolitical turmoil at Europe's door: the perspective of civil society", which took place in Zagreb, Croatia, on 24 and 25 October 2022.

The European Union should not only support Ukraine in its daily life during the war, but it should also think about Ukraine's long-term reconstruction and path to EU membership, it was stressed at the seminar, organised in partnership with Croatia's Economic and Social Council (GSV).

The seminar featured three panels: on EU enlargement, communication in times of crisis, and energy.

In her opening speech in Zagreb, EESC President Christa Schweng, said: "Let's try to imagine Ukraine in a couple of years. I know it is difficult to view matters positively against the backdrop of constant news from the field, with missiles continuing to hit Ukrainian cities every day, inflicting damage on the water network and causing power cuts. Our thinking and our work today must be led by how we want to see the future of Ukraine. I see it as a reconstructed, prosperous country based on European values and allowing its citizens to return to decent lives in their home country."  

"How did the West make a mistake about Vladimir Putin?" - Galia Ackerman, French-Russian writer, journalist, and historian, tackled this question in her keynote speech. In her opinion, Putin has been pursuing a hidden agenda since the beginning of his rule in Russia.

Nonetheless, some Westerners were not able to see Putin's goals, and some preferred not to. " KGB-trained Vladimir Putin has the mentality and the ethics of the KGB. And I agree that someone who is a product of the KGB could have the skills to deceive most of the world," said Ms Ackerman.

Speakers opening the event included Croatian Minister for Labour, Pension Systems, Family and Social Policy, Marin Piletić, head of the European Parliament Office in Croatia, Violeta Simeonova Staničić, Head of Media at the European Commission Representation Office in Croatia, Andrea Čović Vidović and Head of the Croatian Journalists' Association Hrvoje Zovko.

The three panel discussions were introduced by the president of the EESC's Civil Society Organisations' Group Seamus Boland, the president of the EESC's Workers' Group Oliver Röpke and member of the EESC's Employers' Group and president of the EESC Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC) Aurel Laurențiu Plosceanu.

The panel that opened the seminar, entitled "In the shadow of war: Europe's new geopolitical context and consequences for the future of the EU", focused on the impact of Russia's actions on the Balkans and on lessons for Ukraine regarding EU enlargement.

The West's struggle in the "battle of narratives" against Putin's Russia was one of the themes of the panel discussion on "Communication in times of crisis". Panel members stressed Russia's strong hand in sowing its propaganda outside Europe and North America and pointed to a growing need for professional and "volunteer armies" to combat disinformation techniques in Europe.

Severe problems in the energy market, compounded by the war, were the subject of a panel debate on "The energy revolution between the war and climate objectives, challenges to the Green Deal". On the agenda were challenges for the green transition, lessons from dependence on Russia (which now also apply to China) and the pros and cons of nuclear energy.

The seminar was also supported by the Office of the European Parliament and the European Commission's Representation in Croatia.

To find out more about the seminar, its programme, speakers, videos and photo gallery, please visit: https://bit.ly/3iKZZls (ll)