EBU Member Relations has launched a new initiative for public service media leaders in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS): the Leadership Summit. The two-day event took place in Cadenabbia, Italy. 

Nine public service media (PSM) leaders from Central and Eastern Europe (BiH, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Ukraine) assembled in a trusted environment to exchange insight and experience on challenges and perspectives for PSM leadership, including digital transformation, content strategies, public diplomacy and nurturing human assets. Key speakers included Lucy Kueng from Reuters Institute, and experts from ARD, ORF and Deutsche Welle. The two-day event took place in the historic villa of the former German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and was co-financed by KAS and the EBU's Partnership Programme.

EBU Director General Noel Curran said: "All the EBU Members represented here are facing unprecedented competition in their markets and are committed to developing their organizations and adapting to the digital envionment to meet changing audience expectations. The Summit is a trusted environment for PSM leaders to share thoughts, ideas and experiences on how best to do this. I thank everyone for taking part in what was an intense two days of discussions with other PSM organizations but also with international industry experts.”

Monika Garbaciauskaite-Budriene, Director General of LRT said “We welcome this new initiative. When you are in a smaller group of DGs you get closer to each other and know one another better. We are all different but we often face similar challenges. And it is a great opportunity to discuss with speakers who are experienced professionals in their field and who freely share their best practice. It was so needed to connect again in person after COVID and the place is an excellent venue to engage in good discussions far from the day-to-day pressure.”

Hendrik Sittig, Head of Media Programme South-East Europe, KAS said: "I’m delighted that we have been able to organize this leadership summit together with the EBU. Public service media is an important topic for KAS as a Media Programme. I’m convinced it is an essential part of democratic society - as long as it can work independently and is well financed in order to fulfil its important task. Public broadcasters have to be advocates serving citizens – viewers, listeners and online users - and not a tool in the hands of politics."

Boris Raonic, Director General RTCG, added: "With RTCG’s new management in place, we are entering a phase of intensified institutional and programme transformation as well as legislative change. In that regard, we rely on the support of our international partners especially the EBU, and the resources from their pan-European network and longstanding expertise. This event and similar EBU events are very useful for valuable networking and exchange of experience and best practice."