Once again, the European Christian Political Party is partnering with ROM- Renewing Our Minds organisation to create an event focused on the intersection of faith, media and politics in a time when our societies and communities seem more divided than ever.

The conference is building on last year’s theme, with an added focus on media. Polarization in Europe and around the world is growing, and we cannot ignore the fact that media (traditional and social media) is playing an active role. As people of faith engaged in our societies, we need to wrestle and reckon with the issues of disinformation, fake news, AI, etc.

In the EU, the recent elections in Romania and Moldova, the protests in the Balkans, the UK, and the rise of nationalist and populist movements have forced us all, including people of faith and religious communities, to admit and witness the dividing faults in our midst and to think about issues like migration, freedom of speech, climate change etc. In rejecting the binary us vs. them framing on these issues, critically interrogating the media’s role, and reframing perspectives to focus on mutual respect, shared humanity and finding common ground, this project takes direct aim at the problems and divisions and proposes a better way forward.

The conference is open to students and young professionals from the Balkans and the EU to discuss and learn ways to overcome disinformation and polarization, and to resist “othering” other people. The goal is to counter the disillusionment many young people experience in the current climate, which often leads to disengagement. Instead, we want to present a vision for healthy and productive political engagement based on our values.