Trailblazing Across Europe: Influencers Illuminate EU Funded Projects in 10-Day Adventure

In a groundbreaking 10-day roadshow, 12 influencers from Bulgaria, Poland, The Netherlands, and Portugal are bringing to light the diverse range of EU Cohesion projects, a crucial initiative that represents a third of the EU's funding, amounting to 392 billion euros. Despite their significant impact, these projects have remained largely unknown among many EU citizens.

Spanning four countries and 16 cities, the influencers traversed 6279 kilometers to showcase 14 projects. With a combined following of 660,000 across platforms from Instagram to TikTok, they are uniquely positioned to engage an audience traditionally elusive to political and European content producers.

The Cohesion Tribe influencers from those EU member states have an audience that was, until now, hard to reach for political and European based content makers. On the scene, they made videos, stories and photos to share with all their followers. But for the continuation it is important to raise awareness especially for this new generation.

Architect of sections of the M2 line, of Metro Warszowskie in Warschaw, Poland. Jacek Dudkiewicz: “With the EU money we were able to finish 3 stations at once. Now we can connect the East to the West and there is less traffic in the city. Every station underground is connected with something recognizable above. Because of the iconic neon signs, passengers know where they are.”

João Nunes, Founder and CEO of BLC3, Oliveira do Hospital, in Portugal. “Because of our sustainable development in bio-economy and circular economy we support innovation in the region and help this region to grow. Young people want a challenge, so our mission is to keep the knowledge here. The average age of our employees is 29. And most of them are women.”

Founder of the Enschede Textielstad in The Netherlands, Annemieke Koster: “I felt the urge to change something in the fashion industry. Our challenge is to make fabrics greener and more sustainable. In the production there is a lot of waste and fabrics are shipped all around the world. We work with local producers and aim for a circular industry.’

An old folklore technique that was almost forgotten in Bulgaria, a metropolitan bus station in Poland, a VR application to improve mental health, or the renovation of a worldwide known brand porcelain museum; the projects of the EU Cohesion Funding are numerous. What they all have in common is that they create jobs and help economic growth and sustainable development in the specific areas of the member states, improving the citizens’ quality of life.

Principal Marin Nikodimov of Temelko Nenkov School in Pernik, Bulgaria: “We want to keep the 90% Roma children of our school motivated to stay in school and give them a chance to develop themselves. Unfortunately, that is not possible with mathematics and literature. That’s why we started eight years ago with extra creative activities in our curriculum. The Dreamworkshop works! Every diploma we see as a big success.”

Leveraging the allure of gamification, followers who engage in the created content have a chance to win a 500 euro ticket with Eurail.

This United Partners-EU collaboration goes beyond traditional project display. It's a creative expedition showcasing the diverse socio-economic tapestries of four EU countries, unified in their quest for positive change, bridging gaps, and enhancing the quality of life for their citizens. In a bold move blending digital innovation with grassroots storytelling, United Partners, a premier PR agency embarked on the "Cohesion Story Quest." This pioneering information campaign represents a significant shift in communicating the EU's Cohesion Policy, integrating cutting-edge methods and diverse communication channels. The campaign uniquely involves influencers, journalists and content creators to craft and spread authentic, digital-first content.

About United Partners: United Partners (UP) is a Europe-based independent PR agency, specializing in strategic counseling, corporate reputation, brand communications, event management, public affairs consulting and digital communications. With a robust network of partner agencies spanning across EMEA, their capabilities are primed to assist companies in tapping into desired markets, making educated choices and realizing their objectives.

About the Cohesion Story Quest EU funded Project: The "Cohesion Story Quest" is an innovative campaign that aims to engage young audiences and increase awareness of EU Cohesion Policy through various communication channels. 12 influencers, journalists, and content creators are involved in creating digital content about EU funded projects in Bulgaria, Poland, The Netherlands, and Portugal.

Photo Credits: Filipe Cardoso  

Photo Credits: Valentin Alipiev  

Photo Credits: Marieke de Bra

Note: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.