The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, in partnership with Romania’s International Development Cooperation Agency (RoAid), is hosting the fourth edition of the training programme titled “Building Resilience to Disinformation in a Changing Communication Environment” in Bucharest from September 7 to 11, 2026.
The week-long programme brings together international participants, diplomats, strategic communication experts, government officials, media professionals, and civil society representatives to exchange best practices and strengthen institutional responses to foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
The opening session at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs featured welcome addresses by Clara Staicu, State Secretary for European Affairs, Middle East and Africa at the Romanian MFA, and Director of Public Diplomacy of RoAid.
Addressing delegates during the opening, the leadership of the Ministry emphasized that combating disinformation and information manipulation has become a critical shared challenge for governments, institutions, and citizens worldwide. The initiative aims to provide a collaborative roundtable format where participants can share operational experience, practical tools, and whole-of-society strategies to safeguard information integrity and public trust.
The training curriculum covers key institutional policies and frameworks, including briefings on Romanian development cooperation, European Union initiatives, and NATO security communication strategies delivered by senior foreign affairs and defence officials.
Participants are examining diverse case studies on foreign information manipulation across regions, featuring presentations and insights from the European External Action Service Stratcom Africa Task Force, France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland’s Department for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation, and Moldova’s Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation.
Practical components of the programme focus on practical debunking methods, media education, and the crucial role of fact-checking in safeguarding information integrity.
The schedule also incorporates direct study visits and institutional exchanges, including sessions at Radio France International Romania, the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, and the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum.
The programme concludes on Friday, September 11, with an official certificate awarding ceremony led by representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and RoAidn and Daniela Dobre, Director General of RoAid.
The event underscores Romania’s sustained commitment to fostering international partnerships, technical capacity-building, and democratic resilience against modern information threats.
