DIACOMET International Conference: BRIDGES – Building European Resilience for Dialogue and Democracy

Brussels, 21-22 April 2026

Rationale 

European democracies are navigating turbulent times marked by multiple risks and polycrisis. Erosion of trust in news media and democratic institutions, growing populism and political extremism, disinformation and hybrid threats, as well as radical movements fuelled by fear and anger, signal democratic backsliding and a broader moral crisis. DIACOMET research across eight European countries reveals that deep political and social polarisation is among the most pervasive and ethically troubling features of contemporary democratic societies. Citizens often feel that their voices are unheard or insufficiently represented and consequently they feel disengaged from the public debate, particularly in contexts marked by conflicting opinions and views.  

Sound, inclusive and accountable public communication is pivotal to robust democracy and resilient civil society, laying the foundation for public trust, participatory governance and civic engagement. Unforeseen challenges and disruptive processes in the European media and communication landscape call for innovative solutions and alternative scenarios to underpin evidence-informed policymaking, robust public governance and inclusive citizen dialogue in a networked society.  

Grounded in a respect for human rights and democratic values, dialogic communication ethics approach can enhance the quality of public communication and suggest normative and ethical standards for communication culture. In response, DIACOMET proposes a set of practical tools (Principles of Good Communication Conduct, dilemma game, online forum, inclusive accountability toolkit, policy manuals and other outputs) designed to foster inclusive dialogue, democratic resilience and relational engagement across digital disruption, social tensions and political divides. 

Objectives 

International conference aims to contribute to evidence-informed, collaborative policymaking and participatory democracy by promoting dialogic engagement through research, innovation and policy action. Building on DIACOMET research evidence, we seek to create bridges between knowledge, policy and practice by fostering closer cooperation and sustained dialogue among researchers, media professionals, civil society actors and decision-makers. 

Participants 

The multi-stakeholder event will convene policymakers, journalists and media professionals, members of academic and education community, NGOs, and civil society actors to contribute to EU-level dialogue and policy reflection with evidence-informed expertise. It aligns with the EU priorities to reinforce democratic culture, civic empowerment and sustainable futures amid growing geopolitical tensions, hybrid threats and accelerating digitalisation. 

Key topics 

To respond to the confrontational nature of public communication and to advance common understanding of communication ethics and accountability, the knowledge-informed policy dialogues will be offered in two events with panels, roundtables, game workshop and interviews focusing on the following topics: 

– Polarization, disconnection and democratic backsliding 

– New vulnerabilities and policy uptake 

– Media & information literacy and continuous education 

– Communication ethics and inclusive accountability mechanisms 

– Democratic resilience and civil society empowerment  

– Digital transformation and AI-enhanced communication 

– Dialogic skills, tools and applications 

Organisers 

DIACOMET consortium, Lithuanian RDI Liaison Office in Brussels, Vytautas Magnus University.

Registration 

The event will be held on-site only. The conference for registered participants takes place only on 22 April. Activities on 21 April are reserved for invited project participants.

Please register to attend the conference on 22 April using this form. Registration confirmations will be sent after the registration deadline (extended until 13 April).

DIACOMET project 

DIACOMET proposes a novel approach to communication ethics and inclusive accountability mechanisms applicable to networked societies and their diverse range of communication actors, from legacy media to online influencers. Dialogic Communication Ethics (DCE) offers an innovative framework for interpreting communication challenges by fostering free and constructive deliberation among actors, strengthening citizens’ engagement in public communication, and ultimately enhancing societies’ capacities to prevent, reduce and withstand dysfunctional or destructive interaction.  

DIACOMET has received funding from the EU Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101094816. 

Contacts and further information 

Kristina Juraitė, [email protected]; Eglė Gerulaitienė, [email protected].

Important notice for all participants: To pass the security check, you will need to show your ID and be registered on the participant list.

Conference programme

12:00-13:00	Registration & Networking Lunch
13:00-13:15	Welcome and Introduction: – Lithuanian Ambassador to the EU – Kristina Juraitė, DIACOMET
13:15-13:35	Keynote Address: – Jolita Butkevičienė, Innovation in Science and Policymaking (JRC), EC
13:35-14:00	DIACOMET Dialogues: Key Contributions & Applications
14:00-14:20	Keynote Address: – Divina Frau-Meigs, UNESCO Chair “Savoir Devenir”, Sorbonne Nouvelle University
14:20-15:05	Panel Discussion: Building Democratic Resilience Through Dialogue – Jolita Butkevičienė, Innovation in Science and Policymaking (JRC), EC – Divina Frau-Meigs, UNESCO Chair “Savoir Devenir”, Sorbonne Nouvelle University – Marko Milosavljević, University of Ljubljana – Aistė Meidutė, Delfi – Moderator: Auksė Balčytienė, Vytautas Magnus University
15:05-15:30	Coffee Break
15:30-17:00	Dialogue Lab: Interactive Workshop
17:00-17:10	Closing Reflections
17:10-18:00	Coffee & Informal Networking