#Democracy in an Age of Disinformation
Insights and Responses from the Western Balkans
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
BUDVA, MONTENEGRO
This conference will highlight the findings from the national and regional dialogues organised throughout the CDWB project and will also be an opportunity to discuss and adopt the Roadmap for regional cooperation on combatting disinformation and advancing media freedom.
1 October
Montenegro Starts Hotel Group, Splendid Conference & Spa Resort
How can we ensure that the election process is not affected by the disinformation?
Focus on different responses to disinformation, e.g. role of fact-checkers, media literacy etc; disinfo during elections and campaigns, experience from Montenegro 2023 and innovative approaches i.e. CRTA’s inoculation method, demonetisation etc.
09:00 – 10:00: Welcome coffee and registration
10:00 – 10:30: Welcome remarks
10:30 – 12:00: Panel 1 – Elections in Rewind: How Disinformation can Affect the Process of Elections?
This session will focus on different responses to disinformation, e.g. role of fact-checkers, media literacy; a particular focus will be on the disinformation during elections and campaigns, the experience from Montenegro 2023 and innovative approaches.
Coffee break
12:15 – 13:30: Panel 2 – Navigating the Digital Landscape: AI’s Role in Identifying Disinformation
Explore the advantages of integrating AI and using it against disinformation, but also analyse what could be the potential risks and how we can mitigate them.
Lunch break
14:30 – 16:00: Panel 3 – Participatory Democracy as a New Tool on Fighting Disinformation
Inclusion of citizens feat. 4 CAs on disinformation, digest of recommendations. Explore the recommendations of the Citizens assemblies and how it was implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia.
Coffee break
16:15 – 17:00: Closing Session and Roadmap Presentation
17:00 – 18:00: Networking drinks
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and ICJ Opinion in the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Swipe to get to know our speakers
Bianca Anechitei
Programmes Manager
European Commission
Bianca Anechitei is Programme Manager for Disinformation and Western Balkans in the Service for Foreign Policy Instrument of the European Commission, serving the High Representative/Vice-President for Common Foreign and Security Policy. She has over a decade of experience cooperation, acquired in Brussels EEAS HQ and EU delegations, in the MENA and Asia Pacific regions and now in the Western Balkans, working on conflict prevention and digital connectivity. Bianca holds a humanities degree from the University of Oxford and completed international relations masters studies as part of dedicated programmes at Sciences Po Paris and College of Europe.
Radovan Bogojevic
Strategic Communications Officer
EU Delegation in Montenegro
Radovan Bogojevic is a communication specialist with extensive experience in journalism, public relations, and strategic communication. He currently serves as the Strategic Communication Officer at the EU Delegation to Montenegro, where his work focuses on combating foreign information manipulation, cyber security, and digital diplomacy. Over the course of his career, he has worked as a TV journalist and producer, a Reuters correspondent, a teaching assistant, and a communication expert. Radovan holds a degree in political science from the University of Montenegro, a master’s in media management from the University of Glasgow, and completed mass communication studies at Arizona State University as a Fulbright fellow.
Adriana Buchiu
Parliamentary Support and Capacity Building Unit
European Parliament
In the Parliamentary Support and Capacity Building Unit, Directorate for Democracy Support, Directorate General for External Policies in the European Parliament (EP), managing capacity-building support programmes with the Parliaments in Kosovo, Montenegro and the Pan-African Parliament. Joined the EP in 2005 working in election observation, human rights, policy unit (research) and in the strategy and innovation department. Before joining the EP, worked in the Romanian administration, as a European integration advisor in the Chancellery of the Romanian Prime Minister, coordinating the negotiation process for the EU integration with the line-ministries. Graduate of the University of Bucharest with a bachelor’s degree in history and political sciences, and a master degree in EU Law from the University Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris.
Teodora Ćurčić
Data Journalist & Investigative Reporter
Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia
A data journalist and multimedia producer at CINS (Center for Investigative Journalism, Serbia), specializing in large datasets, database management, and visual storytelling, focused on corruption and political party financing, with her investigative work often highlighting issues like gender-based violence, political corruption, and the struggles of everyday citizens. In 2023 named among the top 12 young journalists worldwide, being short-listed for the Thomson Foundation’s Young Journalist Award. Teodora now provides training in advanced online research, AI tools, open data utilization, and data visualization; she is a co-author of a manual on large dataset management and has produced a series of video tutorials on the subject. Also, she was part of the small team for the undercover story on voter manipulation , and the non-transparent financing of the ruling party in Serbia; the story harvested the awards across the region, among them the Article 19’s Ethical Journalism Award.
Jelena Danilović
Analyst
Atlantic Council of Montenegro
As analyst at the Digital Forensic Center (DFC), focuses on socio-political events and malign influence, monitoring domestic and regional media outlets and social networks (including coordinated inauthentic behaviour on Facebook and X).
Ken Godfrey
Executive Director
European Partnership for Democracy
Ken Godfrey is the Executive Director of the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and has led the organisation since 2015. Prior to joining EPD, Mr. Godfrey worked as an Electoral Advisor for the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste. He has also worked for the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, at the European Parliament and as an external consultant for the European Commission. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics in Comparative Democratisation. Mr. Godfrey has also lived and worked in Argentina, Canada, China, Japan, Senegal and the United Kingdom.
Stefan Janjić
Editor-in-chief
Fake News Tracker
Assistant Professor at the Department of Media Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad (Serbia). Graduated in Journalism as a valedictorian, completed Communicology master studies, and received Ph.D. in Social Sciences and Humanities (Communication and Philological studies) from the same faculty in 2021. MIL trainer and media analyst at Novi Sad School of Journalism since 2014, became editor-in-chief of FakeNews Tragač (Fake News Tracker), a fact-checking website, at its foundation in 2018. The winner of Sakura, Konrad Adenauer and Distinguished Humphrey scholarships, Stefan is also among the most awarded young journalists and social science researchers.
Dragan Kremer
Project Director, Western Balkans
European Partnership for Democracy
After 20 years of freelance journalism across former Yugoslavia and successor states, with ventures into advertising and PR, transitioned to media development: worked as a trainer and network coordinator, eventually Media Advisor and Deputy COP with international agencies like USAID partners Internews and IREX ProMedia in Western Balkans. Managed programs for minority language and Roma media in SEE, coordinated Public Interest Media and Freedom of Expression programs at OSF Serbia, consulted for organizations like OSCE and EUD, and served as Deputy Team Leader for the British Council’s Media for All project in Western Balkans, before joining EPD as Project Director for ‘Combatting Disinformation in Western Balkans’ in January 2023.
Ljiljana Kolarski
Project Assistant
European Partnership for Democracy
Ljiljana Kolarski works as a Project Assistant at the European Partnership for Democracy, where she contributes to the project focused on “Combating Disinformation in the Western Balkans.” She also serves as a research assistant at the Institute for Political Studies and is currently pursuing her PhD at the Faculty of Political Studies. Her research interests include citizen participation, authoritarianism, and women’s political representation. Ljiljana has participated in various national, regional, and international programs and has authored several scientific papers in the field of political science.
Zeljka Lekić-Subašić
Head of Coordination Office | Senior media and communication expert
Eurovision News Exchange for Southeast Europe | Article 19
A journalist and producer with 30+ years of experience, currently heads the ERNO (Eurovision News Exchange for Southeast Europe) Coordination Office in Sarajevo, BiH; additionally, serves as a senior regional coordinator for Article 19. Holds a Ph.D. in media, international politics, and journalism; teaches media-related courses at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. Received the Dr. Erhard Busek – SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in Southeast Europe in 2014.
Cedomir Markov
Research Fellow
The Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory
As a research fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, explores the relationship between media and audiences in hybrid political and media environments, with a focus on media (dis)trust, cynicism, and anti-press hostility. He is currently investigating how democratic innovations and deliberative institutions can help foster democracy-supporting audience–media relations. His work has been featured in international journals, including Journalism, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Journalism Practice, and Communication & Society. He co-edited the book “Participatory Democratic Innovations in Southeast Europe: How to Engage in Flawed Democracies” and leads the work package “Connecting the Scattered Knowledge on Democratic Innovations” within the Horizon Europe project Nets4Dem: Network of Networks for Democracy (2023–2026).
Snjezana Milivojevic
Professor of Public Opinion and Media Studies
University of Belgrade
Professor of Communication and former dean of Bayan College, Purdue NWU USA affiliate in Muscat, Oman. Prior to that, a long time professor at University of Belgrade – Faculty of Political Sciences, chair of Doctoral program in Culture and the Media, MA program in Communication; the founding chair of the Center for Media Research. Fulbright Scholar at Columbia School of Journalism, Chevening Scholar and Senior Associate Member at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University, and visiting lecturer for several European and American universities. Her main academic interest is in political communication, media policy and regulation, cultural studies and media and public memory.
Boris Mugoša
Member of Parliament
Social Democrats Party, Montenegro
Raša Nedeljkov
Programme Director
Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability
Since 2013 and joining CRTA, CSO committed to promoting transparency, accountability and democratic governance, works as Program Director to safeguard information integrity, combat disinformation, and counter propaganda and information manipulations. Focuses on data-driven insights and fact-checking mechanisms to raise awareness and drive systemic change. CRTA has introduced innovative tools that empower citizens to recognize and resist propaganda, thus enhancing media literacy and fostering a more informed and engaged electorate. His advocacy efforts led several major international companies to reduce advertising in outlets spreading disinformation in Serbia.
Zoran Petoš
Project Coordinator
Center for Civic Initiatives/DON
As a project manager at CSO DON (Prijedor, BiH) since 2007, joined ‘Pod lupom’ (‘Under the magnifying glass’) coalition for free and fair elections, at its founding in 2014. After coordinating election monitoring on a regional level, in 2018 became national coordinator of long-term election monitors. Currently dealing with election committees, reporting of pressures on voters, and updating the voters’ register. NDI trainer for political parties’ monitors.
Iveta Radicová
Former Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic
Club de Madrid member
Iveta Radicova is a former Prime Minister of Slovakia. She served for one successive term from 2010-2012.
Born on 7 December 1956 in Bratislava, Slovakia, Ms Radičová holds a PhD and Professor in Sociology from Comenius University Bratislava. As the Vice-Chairwoman of the Slovak Christian Democratic Union – Democratic Party (SDKÚ-DS) she has been responsible for social affairs and healthcare since 2006. Since 2017 she is a Dean at Paneuropean University and European Coordinator at European Commission. She has taught as a visiting professor at universities in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, UK and the U.S.A. Iveta Radičová was a Fellow for the Media and Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe project at Oxford University in 2013. She has advised various government bodies on social and family policies, participated in the approximation of European legislation in the area of employment and social affairs before Slovakia’s accession to the EU and has also carried out studies on poverty for the World Bank. She is currently European Coordinator for the TEN-T Mediterranean Corridor and is a member of the World Council for Women Leaders.
Dragana Stanišić Kažanegra
Secretary of State
Ministry of Media and Culture, Montenegro
Riccardo Serri
Deputy Head
Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro
Ardita Zejnullahu
Executive Director
Association of Broadcast Media in Kosovo
Executive Director of the Association of Broadcast Media in Kosovo, an accomplished media professional with 15+ years extensive experience across the full spectrum of media freedom and communications laws, from both the regulatory and commercial perspective, as well as from public sector. Ardita holds a BA degree in Economics & Management from the University of Pristina; M.St research degree from the University of Oxford – Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (Program in Comparative Media Law and Policy) and MSx in Leadership from the Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business).
How can we ensure that the election process is not affected by the disinformation?
Focus on different responses to disinformation, e.g. role of fact-checkers, media literacy etc; disinfo during elections and campaigns, experience from Montenegro 2023 and innovative approaches i.e. CRTA’s inoculation method, demonetisation etc.
Location
No transportation arranged? We tell you how to reach the venue
From Tivat airport
1. Take a taxi from Tivat airport to Tivat bus station.
2. Take a bus from Tivat bus station to Budva bus station with Alo Express, MF Travel or AutoPrevoz Azaton.
3. Take a taxi from Budva bus station to Splendid Conference & Spa Resort.
From Podgorica airport
1. Take a taxi from Podgorica airport to Podgorica train station.
2. Take a train from Podgorica train station to Virpazar train station.
3. Take a taxi from Virpazar train station to Splendid Conference & Spa Resort.
If you are already in Tivat or Podgorica city, you can skip step 1 from both options above.
Car
Splendid Conference & Spa Resort provides free parking for guests.
Hotels nearby we recommend
– Hotel Montenegro Beach Resort (https://www.montenegrostars.com/en/montenegro-home-en)
– Iberostar Waves Bellevue (https://www.iberostar.com/eu/hotels/budva/iberostar-bellevue/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1pi8woD5hwMV6wsGAB2S2yqFEAAYASAAEgK5d_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
– Hotel Harmonia by Dukley (https://www.harmoniahotel.com/en/)
– Hotel Lusso Mare by Aycon (https://lussomare.me/?lang=en)
– Hotel Mediteran (https://www.mediteran.me/)
– Hotel Tara (https://tara-hotel.com/en/)
– Hotel Kalos (https://hotel-kalos.me/)
– Hotel Villa Bel Mare (https://www.belmare.me/)
– Hotel Larimar (https://larimar-lim.com/)
– Hotel Premier (https://budvapremier.com/)
– Hotel Dolce Vita – Bečići (https://www.dolcevita.me/)
How can we ensure that the election process is not affected by the disinformation?
Focus on different responses to disinformation, e.g. role of fact-checkers, media literacy etc; disinfo during elections and campaigns, experience from Montenegro 2023 and innovative approaches i.e. CRTA’s inoculation method, demonetisation etc.
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* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Any questions/issues? Contact us!
