On Thursday 26 January, a European source told EUROPE that the European Union wants to communicate better to the countries of the EU's southern neighbourhood – in Arabic – on what the EU does (see EUROPE 11709).
According to the same source, while a taskforce on strategic communication in Arabic to Arab countries already exists (following a request from the foreign ministers in February 2015), the EU would like to develop this taskforce. However, "the idea of the taskforce is not to provide a counter-narrative" to the propaganda of so-called Islamic State, the same source said. A communication cell of the Coalition, which brings together around 60 countries is based in London and is already performing this task. The goal of this European taskforce "is rather to provide a 'positive narrative' of the EU's activities in these countries", the same European source stated. The taskforce will work with the EU's delegations on the ground in order to develop a communication strategy per country to promote a positive message on what European and Arab countries have in common.
Unlike the 'east stratcom' taskforce that was created to counter the Russian disinformation campaign (see EUROPE 11601), the taskforce for the south has not received any contribution to its personnel from the member states. It is thus currently recruiting several contract workers.
In addition, the EU will develop a Young Med Voices programme with the Anna Lindh foundation so that young people from both shores of the Mediterranean can talk and share their experience.
In February 2015, the Foreign Affairs Council called for measures to improve strategic communication. It also called for work on an awareness-raising strategy with regard to the Arab world, and especially for work on messages to counter terrorist propaganda. Given the increasingly frequent abusive use of the internet in radicalisation, the Foreign Affairs Council also called for action on social media and for communication in Arabic to be strengthened. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)