ENCouncil

ENC Hosts Two Events on Information Integrity in Central Asia and Kazakh Cultural Heritage

On 13–14 April 2026, the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) hosted two events in Brussels under the Cultivating Audience Resilience through Amplification of Vibrant and Authentic Narratives (CARAVAN) project, funded by EU and implemented by Internews Europe. Dedicated to policy research and cultural heritage, the two-day programme consisted of two events, together bringing over 120 participants from EU institutions, embassies, think tanks, civil society, academia, and media communities.

Information Integrity in Central Asia: New Research Findings on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

On 13 April, ENC presented new research findings on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in Central Asia. The event opened with remarks from Irène Mingasson, Head of Unit at the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission, and brought together over 50 participants from across policy, research, and media communities.

The study, conducted by ENC in collaboration with Internews, examined Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) trends in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan between October 2025 and February 2026. Using AI-assisted monitoring of over 581,000 social media posts alongside expert interviews and regional consultations, the research provides a detailed analysis of narrative patterns, amplification dynamics, and platform usage.

Following the presentation of the research findings, a panel discussion moderated by Meera Selva (CEO of Internews Europe) took place, featuring Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (ENC), Dmitri Surnin (Strategic Programme Adviser at Internews), Dr. Shairbek Dzhuraev, and Dina Zhansagimova, a media expert from Kazakhstan with Internews. The discussion focused on the need to improve the quality of local media content, emphasizing stronger standards, greater investment, and more support for independent journalism. Closing remarks were delivered by Vadim Sadonshoev, CARAVAN Project Director at Internews Europe.

Read the full report here.

Reclaiming Cultural Identity: Kazakhstan Kui Music — Film Presentation with Live Kui Performance

On 14 April, ENC and Internews hosted a cultural evening at Cinema Galeries, located within the historic Galerie de la Reine, bringing together 70 participants to for the event on Reclaiming Cultural Identity: Kazakhstan Kui Music.

The event opened with a welcome reception featuring remarks by Io Kerstin Schmid, Head of Sector at FPI, European Commission, and Saida Manieva, Regional Programme Manager for Europe and Eurasia at Internews. Opening remarks for the film and performance were delivered by Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur on Uzbekistan, who reflected on the growing importance of EU–Central Asia relations, noting that the European Union is today Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and underlined the role of culture, media, and civil society as integral to this partnership alongside trade and politics.

The centrepiece of the evening was a screening of The Solitary String, a short documentary directed and produced by Annas Bagdat. The film is the culminating work of the 20-episode documentary project Shezhireli Qulaq Küi (Legendary Tuning of the Ear), exploring how Kazakh instrumental music — küi — emerged as a profound form of cultural resistance under Soviet rule. The project reclaims küi not merely as folklore, but as a living archive of memory.

Following the screening, küi practitioner and researcher Rustem Nurkenov, of the Kazakh National University of Arts, offered a live concert performance on the dombyra, explaining musical techniques and the expressive meanings embedded in the tradition. The discussion and closing remarks were moderated by Dina Zhansagimova, Media Expert from Kazakhstan, with a Q&A open to the full audience.

Watch the full documentary here.

* About CARAVAN
The event is part of the Cultivating Audience Resilience through Amplification of Vibrant and Authentic Narratives (CARAVAN) project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Internews in Central Asia.

ENC Head of Projects & Research Asuman Kubra Bas Speaks on FIMI at the “Beyond the Noise: Media Literacy and Tackling Disinformation” Conference

On February 17, 2026, Asuman Kübra Baş, Head of Projects and Research at the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC), spoke at the Beyond the Noise: Media Literacy and Tackling Disinformation Conference, organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye and hosted by Kadir Has University. The conference brought together policymakers, researchers, journalists, and civil society representatives to exchange perspectives on media literacy, disinformation, and the protection of information integrity in the digital age.

During her intervention, she addressed the concept of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and its relevance in the current geopolitical context. She discussed the characteristics of information manipulation, including the range of actors, tactics, and technological developments associated with these activities, as well as the implications for information integrity and their broader relevance to democratic processes and security.

More information about the conference is available here.

ENC Director Samuel Doveri Vesterbye Speaks on “Securing Europe’s Cognitive Frontline: FIMI, Digital Connectivity and EU-Türkiye Relations” at TÜBA-EMAN Conference on Un/Governance in the Mediterranean Region

On 1–2 November, Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, Managing Director of the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC), participated in the conference “Un/Governance in the Mediterranean Region and the Global System” organized by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) and the Euro-Mediterranean Academic Network (EMAN).

Hosted by Istanbul Nisantasi University, the event brought together academics, policymakers, and the public to discuss contemporary challenges in governance and ungovernance in the Mediterranean region and the global system. Themes covered included governance in health, human security, energy supply security, human rights, sustainability, and cultural interaction. Mr. Doveri Vesterbye delivered a presentation titled “Securing Europe’s Cognitive Frontline: Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Digital Connectivity and EU-Türkiye Relations,” sharing ENC’s findings about FIMI, connectivity, and regional cooperation.

ENC Director Samuel Doveri Vesterbye Speaks at EUI Round Table on Critical Infrastructure in the Black Sea During Wartime

On 7 October, Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, Managing Director of the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC), took part in a round table discussion titled “Critical Infrastructure in the Black Sea During a Time of War: Resilience and Adaptation.” The event was hosted by the School of Transnational Governance (STG) at the European University Institute.

The discussion focused on the resilience, reconstruction, and regional connectivity of critical infrastructure in Ukraine and the wider Black Sea region amid ongoing conflict.

Participants included Denis Cenusa and Michael Guterbock (both Visiting Fellows at STG) alongside Samuel Doveri Vesterbye. Together, they examined how infrastructure systems, from energy grids and transport networks to healthcare facilities, operate under extreme stress and adapt in times of war.

The session opened with remarks by Professor Trine Flockhart, who introduced the concept of a “Multi-Order World.” Denis Cenușa discussed the performative role of critical infrastructure during wartime, illustrating how Ukraine’s transport, energy, and social systems have become both strategic targets and symbols of national resilience. He introduced the concept of “re-securitisation”, where the protection of infrastructure becomes central to state survival and national identity.

Michael Guterbock provided an in-depth overview of Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure across the frontline, describing how hospitals and clinics are continuously rebuilt, repurposed, and safeguarded despite ongoing bombardment. He emphasised that restoring healthcare capacity is vital for reconstruction and for enabling the safe return of displaced civilians.

Samuel Doveri Vesterbye expanded the discussion to the regional dimension, analysing the complexity of Black Sea infrastructure and its links to emerging trans-Eurasian trade and energy corridors. He underscored how Ukraine’s recovery is tied to these evolving routes, which are reshaping connectivity between Europe, Central Asia, Turkey and the South Caucasus.

The round table highlighted how critical infrastructure serves not only as a functional backbone in times of crisis but also as a performative and transformative force in shaping resilience, identity, and future regional integration.