Fresh perspectives and already a “wave 2” at Maison du MédiaLab- June 2025

Six-months reflections, Barbecue evening with Maison du MédiaLab residents and correspondents.

On the 6th of June 2025, we wrapped up six incredible months with our first wave of Eastern correspondents and residents with a summer barbecue at Maison du MédiaLab. Over good food and great company, we looked back on everything achieved reporting on EU and NATO affairs for their home audience, and building the Maison du MédiaLab into a space for exchange, culture, dialogue, and community. As many of them are settled now in Brussels, Europe MédiaLab team is proud to have been part of their journey. We look forward to seeing how their voices will continue to shape the European media landscape.

Maison du MediaLab residents meet FTI Consulting

As part of the Maison du MédiaLab programme, correspondents visited FTI Consulting along with Europe MediaLab team for an exchange on media, policy, and the Brussels landscape. This was a chance to reflect on their experience, share insights from the region, and explore how cross-border journalism connects Eastern perspectives with the EU space. A big thank-you to the FTI team for the warm welcome (and for supporting the programme)!

The journey continues: First wave of journalists settle and step into Brussels Media Corps.

After six dynamic months at Maison du MédiaLab, our first group of Eastern correspondents and residents is now settling fully into the Brussels media landscape, or continuing their work from home countries. Journalists from Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia will carry on reporting from the heart of Europe, bringing vital cross-border perspectives about the EU, and NATO.

Although their stay at Maison du MédiaLab has come to an end, they stay close to our community. We look forward to reconnecting through monthly receptions and upcoming weekly Aperos.

New Eastern correspondents join the Maison du Médialab!

Europe MediaLab team welcomed the newest Maison du MédiaLab residents over lunch, marking the exciting start of their six-month integration into the heart of the EU media landscape. Hosted in the residence’s garden, the journalists introduced themself while exchanging views and expectations as they are stepping into the Brussels Press Corps. The Maison du MédiaLab story continues, with fresh correspondents ready to make their mark on the EU bubble.

German Marshall Fund ‘s Brussels Forum

Source: GMF’s official page

On 11 and 12 June, Europe MédiaLab was invited to attend the Brussels Forum 2025, hosted by the German Marshall Fund. This year’s edition gathered global leaders, policymakers, and experts under the name “Partnership Disrupted: How Can Transatlantic Cooperation Endure?” Key discussions focused on transatlantic cooperation, geopolitical resilience, and the role of digital technologies in defending democratic values. Europe MédiaLab engaged with high-level stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of a strong, independent media ecosystem in safeguarding democracy across borders.

European Partnership for Democracy Annual event

Source: European Partnership for Democracy / Credits: Daphne Matthys

In June, Europe MédiaLab took part in the European Partnership for Democracy’s Annual Conference. This year’s theme, “Rebooting Democracy” explored how digital tools, AI, and platform governance are shaping the future of democracy. During a panel on European trusted platforms, Europe MédiaLab’s founder Christophe Leclercq raised a key question on sovereignty, trust, and the democratic role of digital infrastructure. The event brought together policymakers, civil society, and media actors to reflect on building resilient, citizen-driven digital spaces across Europe.

Journalists updates – from “wave 1” residents:

Valeriia Pashko

Suspilne Media (Ukraine)

This month, Valeriia Pashko delivered a new round of EU-related coverage, spotlighting Ukraine’s diplomatic and legislative progress on the European stage. She reported on Ukraine’s upcoming membership in the European Audiovisual Observatory, a move that signals deeper cultural and regulatory alignment with European standards. Valeriia also covered President Zelenskyy’s historic first address to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, where he urged continued unity and support in the face of Russian aggression.

In parallel, she reported on the European Commission’s updated trade agreements with Ukraine, ensuring more stable market access amid wartime disruptions. She also highlighted the EU’s extension of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 2027 — a crucial development for millions displaced by the war.

Elena Zagnat

Agora (Moldova)

In June, Elena Zagnat continued her coverage of Moldova’s European trajectory, focusing on high-level diplomatic engagements and Moldova’s evolving place in EU strategic discussions. She reported from the 9th EU–Moldova Association Council in Brussels, where officials assessed Moldova’s reforms and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening political and economic ties. Elena highlighted Moldova’s alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the substantial EU financial assistance aimed at resilience and governance reform.

Later in the month, she covered the European Council summit, where Moldova once again featured prominently on the leaders’ agenda. Her reporting emphasized the growing consensus among EU heads of state to accelerate Moldova’s accession negotiations and outlined the Council’s call to open formal talks.