9th StratCom Seminar on communication challenges and AI opens in Zagreb

The 9th StratCom Seminar, a gathering that brings together leading European and international experts in strategic communication, was formally opened this evening, 12 March 2026, at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Zagreb. This year’s seminar, titled “Reinforcing Strategic Communications in a Rapidly Changing Geopolitical Landscape,” is organised in cooperation with the Club of Venice. The event brings together senior government officials, spokespersons, and communication professionals from across Europe and beyond, including the United States and Ukraine, to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and evolving geopolitical dynamics.
 
Opening remarks were delivered by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman; the Secretary General of the Club of Venice, Vincenzo Le Voci; the Head of the Office of the Prime Minister, Zvonimir Frka-Petešić; José Ramón García Hernández, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of Croatia; and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Davor Božinović, who delivered a brief keynote address on crisis communication and its importance for modern societies. The speakers emphasised Croatia’s role in strengthening European resilience and underscored the importance of agile communication in an era marked by hybrid threats and disinformation.
 
Over the next two days, participants will convene at the Croatian State Archives to exchange views on key issues through panel discussions conducted under the Chatham House Rule. Discussions will focus on the impact of artificial intelligence and algorithm-driven platforms on information integrity, strengthening democratic resilience against foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and enhancing regional cooperation in public diplomacy and security branding.
 
The StratCom Seminar will continue on Saturday, 14 March, concluding with a discussion on the communication strategies of the future in an environment increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
 
Special attention will be given to the closing conversation with Daniel Markić, who will analyse communication challenges in a landscape increasingly influenced by non-democratic actors and automated disinformation, where the integrity of sources and the speed of response are becoming critical factors for national security.
 
In the coming days, Zagreb will serve as a hub for the exchange of best practices that will help shape how European governments communicate with citizens in times of crisis, at a moment when the ability to communicate transparently and strategically is more important than ever.
 
The seminar reaffirms the importance of regional cooperation and coordinated action among EU and NATO member states in safeguarding the information space and promoting democratic values.

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