EDDE training in Montenegro strengthens strategic communication for citizen engagement
European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE)
(17. – 21. November 2025, Bar, Montenegro)
From 18 to 21 November 2025, the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) project hosted a four-day training titled “Empowering Citizens Through Strategic Communication” in Bar, Montenegro. The event brought together government communicators and strategic communication experts to explore how digital technologies are reshaping democracy, trust and citizen participation. The training was organised in cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia and the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) as part of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid programme.
Over four days, participants took part in an intensive programme combining lectures, debates, practical exercises and peer exchanges. Through case-based exercises such as developing a “national selfie,” designing visuals to complement key messages, and simulating responses to a disinformation crisis participants translated theory into practice and strengthened their skills for day-to-day communication work.
The first full working day introduced participants to the foundations of digital public affairs and public diplomacy, focusing on how institutions can use digital channels to strengthen dialogue with citizens. The programme then moved into an icebreaker designed to build group cohesion, followed by a lecture on placing citizens at the center of democratic engagement. The afternoon featured a structured debate on trust-building in communications, grounded in academic pre-readings, and concluded with an interactive dialogue with Meta on the relationship between platforms, public audiences and public policy in the modern information environment.
The second day explored national identity and reputational strategy through the concept of the “national selfie.” Participants began with a recap and a brief energizer before diving into a lecture on brand affinity and national self-presentation. They then worked in country groups to develop their own “national selfies,” followed by a plenary discussion linking the exercise to evolving ideas around reputational security. In the afternoon, attention shifted to narrative strategy, with a lecture on policy storytelling and an applied exercise where participants practiced framing complex or unpopular policies in clear, persuasive ways.The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the session “Evening Country Spotlights: Sharing Communication Practices,” where participants presented their strategic communication best practices and national experiences, complemented by a cultural touch as they brought traditional foods from their home countries.
The third day focused on digital expression and multimedia strategy. After the morning recap, participants examined digital rhetoric and the persuasive power of language in online communication. This was followed by a practical session on how multimedia elements enhance strategic messaging, culminating in an exercise where participants designed visuals tailored to specific messages. The afternoon turned to the role of artificial intelligence in government communications, opening a discussion on both its opportunities and its potential challenges for public administration institutions communication practices. A structured debate followed, where participants reflected on recent research and explored how evolving AI capabilities may shape public communication environments and the ways institutions engage with citizens.
The final day concentrated on disinformation resilience. Participants examined contemporary techniques used by harmful actors in adversarial information operations and discussed communication strategies for countering them. They then worked through a crisis simulation exercise requiring real-time responses to a disinformation scenario, testing both their analytical and messaging skills. The training concluded with a plenary on lessons learned, an evaluation session and the closing ceremony, marking the end of an intensive and highly collaborative four-day programme.
The EDDE training in Bar underscored that empowering citizens lies at the heart of democratic resilience, as meaningful dialogue between institutions and the public enables stronger communication, greater trust and the co-creation of more sustainable, people-centred policies. By fostering international cooperation and peer learning, the programme equips government communicators with the tools, analytical frameworks and networks necessary to better support this citizen engagement. Strengthening institutional communication capacities is therefore not an end in itself, but a means to ensure that democratic institutions become more transparent, inclusive and responsive, while enhancing their ability to effectively counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
The implemented activities are supported and funded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia in the scope of the Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid programme and implemented by the Centre for European Perspective.
