Capturing EU Foreign Policy – My Role as Key Expert on the FPI Communication Facility

From September 2023 to December 2024, I served as Key Expert for videography and photography within the Communication Facility of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), part of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
This framework contract was implemented by Stantec, where I collaborated with the fantastic project manager Anca Andreescu, who oversaw project coordination with the FPI Communication team. Alongside me was the second Key Expert, Gilles Gasser, a journalist, film director, and communication expert. Gilles and I worked side by side on most missions, ensuring that audiovisual and written storytelling complemented each other seamlessly.

Meeting Jacinda Ardern at the Paris Peace Forum 2023

Doing an interview with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk

​Missions and Highlights

Over the full contract period (11.09.2023 – 08.12.2024), I delivered:

• 45 short videos tailored for social media and institutional channels
• 850+ photographs covering high-level events, panel discussions, and field missions
• Multiple edits and tailored versions to fit diverse audiences and usage needs
• Instant-coverage at selected events, with photo and video content delivered on-site for immediate communication impact

​
Among them, several stand out:

• Paris Peace Forum 2023 & 2024 – Capturing EU participation at one of the most visible global peace events. Here, I also provided instant-coverage, with photos and videos edited and shared the same day. One of my photos received more than 8,000 views which was posted during the event at lunch.
  • Instant-Video: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1856011527968419916/video/1
  • Instant-Photo: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1855941516423741556/photo/1
• Basel Peace Forum – Documenting dialogue on international peacebuilding and innovation: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1750604500002336826/video/1
• Mission to Senegal – On-the-ground coverage of border security, gold mining, and women’s empowerment projects, showing the EU’s engagement with local resilience initiatives. Wrap up: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1925127727276851380/video/1
• Community of Practice on Peace Mediation (CoP) – Producing event videos that highlighted collaboration between mediators and policymakers. I also created instant videos from the CoP sessions, which achieved significant online reach: 
  • Instant-Video: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1848763832082010405/video/1
  • Event Wrap Up: https://x.com/EU_FPI/status/1873640674840523019/video/1

Gilles and me on the border bridge between Senegal and Mali.

Gold Miner in the Kedougou Region Senegal

Reflections on why EU Foreign Policy Matters:

Working as a Key Expert on the FPI Communication Facility has been an invaluable experience. Beyond the technical challenge of delivering 45 videos and hundreds of photos across multiple missions, I gained deeper insight into how EU foreign policy is practiced on the ground. From documenting resilience initiatives in Senegal to covering global dialogue platforms like the Paris and Basel Peace Forums, I learned what it means to stabilise regions in crisis and how much effort and commitment the EU invests in peacebuilding.
This project also taught me how to manage the scale and complexity of a multi-annual framework contract — balancing instant communication needs with long-term storytelling.
The experience continues to shape my work today, leading me to contribute more actively in the field of peacebuilding communication. Follow-up projects such as collaborations with the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) and the Instant-Coverage of the EU-Ukraine Defence Industries Forum in 2025 are a direct continuation of this journey.

Special thanks again to Anca, Gilles and Solvita for the fantastic project and great collaboration.