For the deputy spokesperson for the President of the European Council, Beatriz Navarro, the honesty of the message, credibility and spontaneity are key to connecting with the public from within the institutions and projecting the EU’s narrative. She emphasised this last Thursday, 4 June, at a meeting held at the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, as part of the platform Bussiness Circle.

The event began with a brief introduction of the speaker by the Chamber’s president, Pablo López-Álvarez, in which he highlighted both Navarro’s career in journalism, as a correspondent in Brussels and Washington, and her work as spokesperson for President Costa in recent years.

Beatriz Navarro began her speech by setting the scene regarding the production, circulation and consumption of information surrounding the European institutions: “It is difficult for everyone to stay informed due to the sheer volume of information and negative news.”

She therefore argued that, in order to project the European narrative, the institutions must send out messages that are honest, reliable and have an impact on citizens. At the same time, she highlighted António Costa’s ability to communicate with the public thanks to his authenticity and spontaneity.

He then reviewed the actions being undertaken by the Council Presidency and the long-term vision for the legislative term, highlighting, among other things, the importance of competitiveness and relations with countries outside the EU.

Finally, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions regarding changes in communication over the last 20 years, relations with Latin America, and the European Union’s annual budget.