- July 13, 2026
- 17:00
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- July 13, 2026
- 18:30
Europe’s information landscape is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, foreign information manipulation, and declining public trust are reshaping how citizens access and evaluate information. Against this backdrop, twenty journalists, editors, fact-checkers, content creators, and influencers from the EU enlargement region came together for the official kick-off of Connecting Futures: Information Integrity in Europe‘s Next Decade. The online session marked the beginning of a collaborative foresight process exploring how Europe’s information environment could evolve by 2036.
To open the discussion, participants shared personal stories about the role information has played in their lives by presenting an object that symbolized their relationship with it. The conversation highlighted how information – accurate or misleading – has shaped careers, communities, and individual experiences, underscoring why protecting information integrity is both a professional and a personal responsibility.
The session continued with interactive spectrum exercises on media freedom, public trust, artificial intelligence, and the future of Europe’s information space. While perspectives differed across countries and professions, common challenges quickly emerged, creating a strong sense of shared purpose.
Over the coming months, participants will meet in a series of online foresight workshops before gathering in Berlin for a study visit. Together, they will develop scenarios for Europe’s information landscape in 2036 and formulate recommendations for strengthening democratic resilience.
Funded by the Aspen International Partners Global Fund 2026, Connecting Futures brings together twenty outstanding young media professionals from the Western Balkans, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Türkiye to strengthen information integrity through cross-border dialogue, foresight, and long-term collaboration.
