Bringing together the communication community of International Geneva

What happens in Geneva shouldn't just stay in Geneva - that was the theme of the networking event for the communication community of International Geneva hosted last week by the EU Delegation. Over 80 colleagues of the press, spokesperson and communication directors of UN agencies, NGOs and other international organisations in Geneva, as well as spokespersons and Ambassadors of Permanent Missions gathered to discuss how to better communicate Geneva's often complex multilateral developments to a wider public.

In her opening words, EU Ambassador Deike Potzel underlined the importance of communication and visibility for the work done in International Geneva.

Citizens rightly want to know: What is the added value of international cooperation? What does the work being done in Geneva actually mean for me? We have good stories to tell but we need to make it more concrete. - EU Ambassador Deike Potzel

She also highlighted that while multilateralism and the UN are facing greater scrutiny, that does not mean that international cooperation has lost public support. Opinion polls show that a majority of people around the world still want countries to work together to tackle common challenges. "As communicators, our task is it to translate this support into understanding, and find new and innovative ways of reaching people who are not already part of the multilateral bubble," she said.

EU Geneva

She provided a recent example of a new initiative by the EU Delegation in Geneva: "In June, we invited a group of young European content creators to Geneva, a first for an EU Delegation. They met colleagues from across the UN system and experienced the work of International Geneva first-hand. The result was more than five million views of content produced by these creators, UN agencies and the EU - and it allowed us to reach audiences that our institutional channels rarely reach."

Ambassador Potzel also underlined the EU's new global communication campaign 'Reliable', which resonates particularly strong in International Geneva. It underlines the EU's steadfast commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter and to peace.

Impact that is not communicated risks remaining invisible. - EU Ambassador Deike Potzel

The event also provided Team Europe Ambassadors a possibility to connect with journalists and UN spokesperson.

The EU thanks all colleagues who attended the event and hopes that this platform helps to strengthen networks to develop ideas, connections and new communication projects.