FIELD-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE EUROPE AND EURASIA REGION Heavy Weight Joe Williams, Middle Weight, Franchon Crews, Light Welter Jamel Herring, and Women’s Light Weight Queen Underwood visit with school children in London. [State Department Photo] 251 U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE EUROPE AND EURASIA REGION U.S. public diplomacy efforts in Europe focus on strength- or Daesh). For example, U.S. missions in Europe support a ening relationships with some of America’s closest allies variety of public diplomacy programs through which Eu- and the region’s 740 million people. Although Europe en- ropean audiences, including vulnerable youth in CVE-fo- joys a high level of connectivity with 120 mobile phones per cus countries (Albania, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 100 members of the population, and roughly 63.2 percent Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia, the internet penetration, many countries of the former Soviet Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Union grapple with a digital skills deficit. Europe’s record the United Kingdom), address how to reduce conditions on media freedom is a complex picture: Western Europe, that give rise to extremist views in their communities. Scandinavia and the Baltic States have some of the freest Moreover, public diplomacy programs provide the Euro- media in the world, while the press in the Balkans and pean public with platforms to youth unemployment. many former Soviet states, such as Hungary, Ukraine and Engagement with the European public on challenging so- Moldova, operates with partial freedom. Russian, Belaru- cial and economic problems, like those brought on by the sian and Azerbaijani media are not free. Media credibility global refugee crisis, is also essential. The 2015 surge in is a challenge in a number of countries, such as Bulgaria migration into Europe threatened the political cohesion of and Romania, where corrupt actors—both foreign and do- the EU and drained national resources away from other mestic—dominate ownership and manipulate the informa- priorities. U.S. missions in Europe promote the integration tion space. The favorability rating for the United States in of immigrant communities through innovative public di- the region based on the latest figures in the Pew Global plomacy programs to convene, connect and empower key Indicators Database remains above 50 percent, with the stakeholders and put out positive narratives. exception of Greece (34 percent) and Russia (15 percent). Favorability in Germany is at 50 percent. With 49 U.S. missions in the region, public diplomacy ex- U.S. FOREIGN POLICY GOALS penditures in Europe amounted to almost $67 million, with the most going to Germany ($6.251 million) and Russia In 2015, U.S. foreign policy priorities in Europe were the ($4.727 million). Ukraine received almost $1.5 million in same as 2014. They included: 1) continue to work for a additional public diplomacy funding for specific programs, Europe whole, free and at peace; 2) strengthen NATO in totaling over $3 million. support of a strong global security community; 3) nego- tiate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Over the last two years, the main challenges for U.S. pub- (TTIP), which promotes economic openness and growth, lic diplomacy in Europe have included supporting Ukraine and invest in European entrepreneurship; 4) defend and and addressing the Kremlin’s propaganda and aggressive advance universal values, democracy and human rights use of influence levers across the political, economic, so- where they are threatened; and 5) cooperate with Russia in cial and information arenas to promote an anti-Western areas of mutual interest while holding Russia accountable agenda throughout the Russian periphery and, to a degree, for its aggression in Ukraine. throughout Europe. Russia spends more than $500 million a year to support an international media infrastructure that sows disinformation, mistruths and counter-narratives about the European Union and the United States in order U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY GOALS to undermine EU and NATO cohesion and halt further in- The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR) and tegration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. U.S. engagement U.S. missions in Europe aim to maintain a policy-focused to counter Moscow’s disinformation campaign involves approach to public diplomacy programs to contribute to using public diplomacy resources strategically to support the above goals for the region. In addition to advancing independent, credible media; strengthen pro-democracy the vision of a Europe that is whole, free and at peace—and civil society groups; and convey policy messages to key deepening vital cultural and educational ties—U.S. public audiences. The United States works with a broad array of diplomacy in Europe prioritizes foreign public engage- partners in this strategic outreach, including multilateral ment to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda; institutions, allied governments, non-governmental orga- promote the U.S. Ukraine and Syria policies; support Eu- nizations and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (See: ropean allies and partners addressing the integration chal- International Broadcasting in Europe). lenges involved in absorbing massive flows of migrants and Efforts to counter violent extremism (CVE) also remain asylum seekers; counter violent extremism; and promote critical given the active recruitment of European foreign ongoing TTIP negotiations and other opportunities to fighters by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL boost trade. U.S. public diplomacy in Europe also supports 252 U.S. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SPENDING IN FY 2015 targeted action plans in 23 countries in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe to strategically fight corruption, The top five, most-funded PD missions in Europe were as it threatens not only democratic institutions and eco- Germany ($6.467 million), Russia ($4.947 million), France nomic growth, but also regional security. ($3.831 million), Turkey ($3.642 million) and Italy ($3.586 million). Ukraine was funded with $3.150. There are U.S. and locally employed staff at 72 U.S. em- bassies and consulates in Europe. Primary public diplo- Traditional public diplomacy programs continue to play a macy outreach includes educational advising and youth central role in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs’ engagement, with the 182 American Spaces (libraries, (EUR) engagement overseas. These include culture, sports, cultural centers and information resource centers) in the civil society, democracy, good governance, English and region often serving as conveners. Academic and profes- education. Throughout 2015, public diplomacy programs sional exchange programs play a crucial role in engaging also focused on engaging foreign audiences on policy is- foreign audiences and building long-term relationships. sues, including countering violent extremism, supporting The Fulbright Program and the International Visitor and the integration of migrants and refugees, advancing TTIP Leadership Program (IVLP) remain popular, prestigious negotiations, promoting entrepreneurship and countering U.S. exchanges that are sought after by academics, students Russian propaganda. and emerging leaders in the region. Other short-term and Several PD programs were created at the end of fiscal year long-term exchange programs, such as the Professional 2015 to address the rapidly escalating migration crisis in Fellows Program and the Humphrey Fellowship Program, Europe and these programs will continue to be a focus of are equally important in reaching a diverse audience and 2016 programming. addressing key European themes in the region, such as youth entrepreneurship. In addition, the U.S. Speakers and Under Secretary Stengel dedicated resources to increase cultural programs aim to deepen the European public’s un- awareness of the migration crisis through public diplo- derstanding of American culture, values and society. macy programming, which included working closely with European NGOs, increased outreach to European officials According to Open Doors Data, the majority of European for the exchange of best practices, as well as English-lan- students who studied in the United States in 2015 were guage programming. EUR’s public diplomacy team worked from the United Kingdom (10,743), followed by Turkey closely with ECA and IIP to coordinate programming, (10,724), Germany (10,193), France (8,743), Spain (6,143), which resulted in numerous IVLP, Professional Fellows, Russia (5,562), Italy (4,863), Sweden (4,507), Norway Fulbright Scholars, and U.S. Speakers focused on this im- (2,498) and the Netherlands (2,257). Austria, Belgium, portant priority. Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Switzerland and Ukraine all had more than 1,000 students studying in the United States. U.S. Embassy Tallin Public Affairs Office accompany’s U.S. Iron Troop Visit to Maidla Kool. [State Department Photo] 2016 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 253 254 U.S. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 2016 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 255 256 U.S. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 2016 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 257 4v AfricaEUROPEA Region & EURASIA Public Diplomacy REGION Spending PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SPENDING FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 D&CPFY 2013Total* D&CPFY 2014Total* D&CPFY 2015Total* Total Funding $33,767,487D&CP All$230,905,850 Sources* $34,567,823D&CP All$160,029,497