8th INFORM EU plenary meeting (Tallinn, Estonia)
16-18 June 2025 – Truth and Trust: Communicators vs Disinformation
Workshops
Monday 16 June
(14:00 - 15:00 & 15:30 - 16:30)
Number
Topic
Speaker(s)
1
Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and Disinformation targeting EU
This session explores how FIMI and disinformation affects the EU and what is being done to counter it. We will look at how the EEAS and the European Commission address this challenge in practice, from building up situational awareness to fostering societal resilience. This hands-on workshop will equip participants with practical tools to identify and counter FIMI and disinformation coming from external sources.
- Inga HÖGLUND, Deputy Head of Unit, Task Force for Strategic Communication and Countering Information Manipulation, DG COMM, European Commission
- Jacob TAMM, Deputy Head of Division, Information Integrity and Countering Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, European External Action Service (EEAS)
2
Digital Truths and Lies: Understanding Misleading Information and Platform Influence
This workshop moves beyond debunking false content to explore the systems that fuel its spread, like social media algorithms, design choices, and psychological triggers. Participants will examine how digital platforms subtly shape what we see and believe, reinforcing biases and influencing public perception through their very architecture. The session equips attendees with critical thinking, verification techniques, and design awareness to not just counter disinformation, but to actively shape ethical, resilient communication in today’s complex information landscape.
- Hetvi Chheda, Communications Assistant, EAVI – European Association for Viewers Interests
- Semih Solmaz, Projects, Communications, and Development Manager, EAVI – European Association for Viewers Interests
3
Fake news? Media strategies and journalists’ techniques to counter disinformation
The workshop offers an inside look at how journalists handle disinformation. Through real-life case studies, fact-checking techniques, and source verification strategies, participants will gain a deeper understanding of media credibility. The session will include discussions and interactive exercises.
- Codruta SIMINA, Journalist
- Joscha WEBER, Head of fact-checking, Deutsche Welle
4
Fact-Checking Strategies on Social Media
This session focuses on fact-checking techniques for social media, where disinformation spreads quickly. Participants will learn strategies for identifying false information, managing misinformation, and engaging with online communities without amplifying harmful narratives. The workshop will explore ways to build credibility and trust online through community management.
- Thibault GRISON, Researcher, Sorbonne Center for Artificial Intelligence, CELSA - Sorbonne Université, Paris
- Baptiste MONTANARI, Deputy to the Head of the Media Office at the General Directorate of Insee, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Économiques, Paris
Project visits
These will take place on Tuesday 17 June (morning).
Visit by bus – maximum 40 participants
1 - Reconstruction of Vana-Kalamaja Street
2,18 million EUR from ERDF
The design and reconstruction of Vana-Kalamaja Street were carried out through an open and inclusive process, resulting in a modern and universally accessible urban space. The street running through Kalamaja has been designed to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists while serving as a unifying public space for the neighbourhood, with the goal of increasing the share of daily walking and cycling.
A total of approximately 29,000 m² of public urban space was renovated, and a 1.1 km-long light traffic path was built. As a result, the connection between the Kalamaja district, the city center, and the waterfront has been significantly improved. Our journey goes from the seaside to the edge of the Old Town.
2 - Pollinator Highway - A biodiverse linear park and green corridor for pollinators and people
2,64 million EUR from Interreg Central Baltic programme
Pollinator Highway is a meadow-like natural environment rich in species, a green corridor and a space for people to move through 6 city districts, through 13 km. The Pollinator Highway runs along a former railway embankment and today's high-voltage line corridor. When the high-voltage lines are moved into the underground cable, the potential for a city-wide linear park is released.
The name "Pollinator Highway" refers to an already existing movement corridor which pollinators (butterflies, bumblebees and bees) and other groups of animals use to move from one green area to another. In its entire length, the Pollinator Highway runs from the Telliskivi creative city through the Kopli cargo station.
The Pollinator Highway is defined by both biodiversity and urbanization. The city and nature are not opposite words: the guiding principle of the project is to preserve the richness of natural life while simultaneously offering both diverse activity opportunities and environmentally friendly movement opportunities for people. In the future, the Pollinator Highway will become a city-wide linear park rich in life, a public space offering new green movement connections and diverse activity opportunities.
The Pollinator Highway concept is being developed with the support of two external projects of the European Union. Both the Augmented Urbans external project (2018-2020) and the B.Green external project (2020-2022) are financed by the Central Baltic Sea Program, which supports cross-border cooperation, sustainable urban mobility and cohesive communities. The project is managed and financed by the City of Tallinn.
Read more: https://www.putukavail.ee/?lang=en
Video in EE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoGd6pmdxKU
Visit by bus – maximum 40 participants
1 - The building of Tallinn Pelgulinna State Upper Secondary School
28 million EUR from ERDF
Tallinn Pelgulinna State Upper Secondary School is an educational facility for a completely new school, whose curriculum and culture focus on the question of how to solve the most pressing issues in the modern world. It is the largest wooden building in Estonia. Wood, as a material, is an excellent carbon sequester. The design of the school building has taken into account the principles of sustainable architecture, the needs of upper secondary students, and the principles of collaborative and learner-centered education.
Real trees grow in the school's lobby, assembly hall, and library. The school collaborates closely with the local district association, co-organizing events and publishing student articles in the community newspaper. The outdoor areas surrounding the school are open to the local community, and various events bringing together different generations and cultural backgrounds are regularly held inside the school building, such as community cinema nights.
Read more: https://perg.ee/about/
2 - Welcoming programme “Settle in Estonia”
18,5 million EUR from ESF+
The objective of the project is to support the migration process and adaptation of new immigrants by providing them with knowledge about the functioning of the state and society, everyday life, work, education, and family-related matters, as well as by promoting the acquisition of Estonian language skills.
Through the adaptation programme, new immigrants gain essential knowledge about the functioning of the Estonian state and society, how to navigate daily life, as well as topics related to employment, entrepreneurship, education, research, and family life. The programme enables recently arrived foreigners to access necessary information, participate successfully in the labour market, lifelong learning, and civil society, and become acquainted with the Estonian cultural space.
The adaptation programme creates a solid foundation for the further integration of foreigners, helps them contribute to society more quickly, and reduces the risk of conflicts between communities. To this end, new immigrants (including short-term workers and their family members) are provided, among other things, with employment-related information and counselling on the Estonian labour market, including their rights and obligations, to ensure high employment rates and active participation in the Estonian labour force.
Read more: https://integratsioon.ee/en/kohanemisprogramm
Maximum 30 participants
1 - Development of the Fat Margaret Building Complex into a Modern Family-Oriented Museum and Visitor Center
2,07 million EUR from ERDF
This UNESCO World Heritage Site provides an overview of maritime trade, professions, and navigation from the Middle Ages to the era of sailing, steam, and motor ships. There is a total of 1000 m² of exhibition space.
A journey through the Fat Margaret Museum and Visitor Center is to see Estonia as a maritime nation. Nearly 700 historical objects, a diverse collection of ship models, and nearly 50 digital and hands-on exhibits help tell the story. The star exhibit is the 700-year-old wreck of the Koge ship.
On the visitor center's roof, there is a wonderful observation platform with a café. Head up on the elevator and enjoy an exceptionally beautiful view of Tallinn's Old Town and the view towards the sea!
The main goal of the project was to provide families with an exciting visitor experience that invites them to explore the world of maritime history and shipbuilding together. This project deserves recognition for making the museum environment and exhibition space within the medieval cannon tower accessible to visitors with mobility, hearing, visual, and intellectual disabilities. As a result of this project, Fat Margaret Museum was opened as a modern family-oriented museum and visitor center, enriching Estonia’s tourism landscape and providing additional motivation for international tourists traveling with families to visit Tallinn.
Read more: https://meremuuseum.ee/paksmargareeta/en/
2 - The construction of Old City Port tram line
36,5 million EUR from RRF
Design-build contract for construction of Old City Port (Vanasadama) tram line was signed in August 2022. The Contractor started with design of the project and construction works started in March 2023. The works resulted in a new tram line running along a stretch of about 2.5 kilometers.
The aim of the works was to improve the comfort of public transport, connecting Tallinn's main transport hubs and making transfers as easy as possible. In the future, tram line 2 will connect Balti jaam train station, the central bus station, the Rail Baltic terminal, and the airport, providing better mobility options for both residents and visitors. On December 1 last year (2024), a new tram corridor passing through the Old City Harbour was opened, with tram line 2 being rerouted to this track. Data shows that it is now the most popular tram line in Tallinn, with approximately 400,000 rides recorded in January 2025.
The Vanasadama tram line construction works, including VAT and owner’s supervision, cost about €46 million, with €36.5 million from the The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
Read more: https://www.tallinn.ee/en/vanasadamatramm
Maximum 40 participants
1 - The Estonian Maritime Museum - Seaplane Harbour
1,9 million EUR from 2004-2006 and 9,2 million EUR from 2007-2013 ERDF funding period
The Estonian Maritime Museum is a collector, preserver, researcher, and presenter of Estonian maritime culture (maritime history). “Our mission is to increase people’s knowledge, respect, and love for the sea.” The reconstruction of the seaplane hangars at the Estonian Maritime Museum’s Seaplane Harbour took place between 2009 and 2012 and was co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The Estonian Maritime Museum was established in Tallinn in 1935 on the initiative of former captains and sailors. Throughout its long history, the museum has undergone several changes. The museum’s main exhibition has been located since 1981 in the Paks Margareeta (Fat Margaret) artillery tower, which has a history of nearly 500 years. The Maritime Museum opened its second exhibition space in May 2012 at the Seaplane Harbour.
Currently, the Estonian Maritime Museum is one of the largest museums in Estonia and is also the most popular museum, especially thanks to the Seaplane Harbour exhibition. In the seaplane hangar at Seaplane Harbour, you can find the Lembit submarine, built in 1937 at the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard in England, the Short 184 seaplane, the wreck of the Maasilinn ship (which is the oldest wreck found in Estonian waters), as well as many authentic exhibition items such as sailboats, boats, and sea mines.
In 2013, the Seaplane Harbour was awarded the Europa Nostra Grand Prix, the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage, which is considered the highest recognition in this field.
Read more: https://meremuuseum.ee/lennusadam/en/introduction-to-the-museum/
2 - Development of PROTO Invention Factory
2,4 million EUR from ERDF
PROTO Invention Factory was the first educational virtual reality center that offers a new and unique experience that cannot be seen anywhere else in Europe! 2019. from October, an interactive fantasy world based on your participation awaits you.
The family tourism attraction PROTO Invention Factory was established in the Noblessner Foundry building in Tallinn. The aim of creating this international family tourism attraction was to significantly boost both domestic and inbound tourism, and to increase awareness of Estonia as a tourism destination in international markets.
Great scientific discoveries from centuries ago are revealed – unique prototypes breathed into life by the most modern 21st-century virtual reality technology. There are exciting and educational activities here for both young and old. PROTO awaits explorers and adventurers from all over the world in North Tallinn by the sea, just 500 meters from the famous Seaplane Harbour.
With virtual reality glasses, you get an immediate sensory experience of a fantasy world. You move around in artificial reality, see 360 degrees around you and decide for yourself what to do next. The VR experience starts with a little instruction and is within everyone’s reach.
You can discover the wonders of technology yourself and directly at the hands-on exhibits. This way you understand physical phenomena from a completely new angle, playfully and excitingly.
Read more: https://www.prototehas.ee/en/
Maximum 50 participants
1 - Development of an Autonomous Research Vessel to Promote More Sustainable Fishing and Research Practices
300 000 EUR from EMFF
In 2023, the Estonian Marine Institute developed the unmanned robot vessel "Heli", which is capable of autonomously navigating according to a predefined route or operating based on real-time instructions sent via a network. The vessel records and transmits real-time data about its position, voyage parameters, and fish schools detected by sonar.
As a cost-effective solution, the robot vessel can be used for scientific research to analyze fish school parameters or to assist in directing commercial fishing efforts. Compared to manned vessels, Heli is significantly more environmentally friendly, efficient, and safer for conducting research and supporting fisheries.
Benefits of this innovation:
The robot vessel is relatively small and can be conveniently operated remotely from an office - efficiently locating fish schools. It consumes very little fuel, making it a significant win from an environmental conservation perspective. In summary, the robot vessel enables monitoring to be conducted much more easily, cost-effectively, and in an environmentally friendly manner.
Read more: https://taltech.ee/en/news/autonomous-ship-sails-seas
2 - Development of the Health Portal
1,14 million EUR from ERDF
Health Information in One Place - The Health Portal developed by 2023 consolidates health data, and treatment information, and provides an overview of patient´s interactions with healthcare.
On the homepage, you'll find health-promoting and science-based information. On a personal dashboard (log in securely with an ID card, Mobile-ID, or Smart-ID), there are upcoming appointments, unfilled prescriptions, tests, analyses, and visits from the past six months, as well as vaccination recommendations.
In the Health Portal, a person can appoint representatives for various actions, such as purchasing prescriptions and viewing health data. Additionally, the portal allows to submit declarations of intent, including blood transfusion, organ donation, and body donation.
Every year there are over 7 million logins to the digital record portal. One of the most notable indicators of the new Health Portal's success is the high level of mobile use. Unlike the previous digital record, where the ratio of mobile to computer users was roughly equal, the number of mobile users has now grown to at least two-thirds of all users.
Read more: https://tervisekassa.ee/en/organisation/e-health-products/health-portal
The portal: https://www.terviseportaal.ee/
Visit by bus – maximum 30 participants – sneakers or comfortable flat shoes recommended
1 - Tabasalu Nature Study Trail – Nature Just Outside the City
5.3 million EUR from the Cohesion Fund
Located within the Rannamõisa Landscape Protection Area in Tabasalu Nature Park, this 3.5 km circular trail offers a scenic and educational journey through one of Northern Estonia’s most diverse natural environments.
The trail begins along the top of the majestic limestone cliff, where visitors are rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Tallinn and the coastline. From there, a stone staircase leads down the cliff to the lower part of the park, eventually looping back to the starting point.
Along the way, you’ll find numerous informative panels that provide in-depth insights into the area’s unique flora, fauna, geology, and natural heritage.
This trail is ideal for families, students, nature lovers, and casual hikers looking for an accessible but enriching outdoor experience. With varied terrain, beautiful views, and rich biodiversity, the Tabasalu trail invites you to slow down, explore, and reconnect with Estonia’s natural beauty – just minutes away from the capital.
With the support of external funding, Estonian State Forest Management Centre has comprehensively rebuilt its visitor infrastructure, restored marshes and other various habitats, restored peatlands, developed nature centres, among other initiatives. The largest contributors have been the European Union Cohesion Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. During the 2014–2020 funding period, infrastructure supporting visitor management in protected areas – such as observation towers, boardwalks, and hiking trails – was reconstructed with the help of the Cohesion Fund, with a total investment of €5.3 million.
2 - Construction of European Mink Enclosures and Furnishing of the DNA Laboratory at Tallinn Zoo’s Species Conservation Lab
850 000 EUR from Cohesion Fund
The project focused on enhancing species conservation efforts at Tallinn Zoo through two main components:
DNA Laboratory Equipment: The species conservation lab was furnished with necessary furniture, equipment, and materials for DNA analysis. A DNA specialist has been working at the lab since 2017. The main directions of the laboratory have been population genetic and phylogenetic studies. The goal has been to provide support for conservation activities in Estonia based on the information obtained from genetic research. The primary focus has been on the European mink, but research has also been conducted on the flying squirrel and wood lemming.
Construction of a New European Mink Breeding Complex: A modern enclosure complex was built to replace outdated modules (except for one previously updated unit). The new facility accommodates up to 100 European minks and includes pools in each enclosure, along with a water circulation system (pumps and filters). Additionally, five large release enclosures were added. All enclosures are equipped for video surveillance, and 10 cameras will be installed as needed to monitor animal behaviour.
Tallinn Zoo homepage: https://tallinnzoo.ee/en/
Visit by bus – maximum 30 participants – sneakers or comfortable flat shoes recommended
Acquisition of New Bomb Disposal Robots and Protective Equipment for the Estonian Rescue Board
300 000 EUR for the procurement of bomb disposal robots and 700 000 for the procurement of bomb suits from Internal Security Fund 2014-2020
Topic: Strengthening Response to Explosive Threats
To ensure safety of bomb disposal operations, the Estonian Rescue Board acquired state-of-the-art bomb disposal robots that play a crucial role in neutralizing immediate explosive threats. These robots allow specialists to handle dangerous objects remotely, ensuring their safety.
The project also includes the procurement of heavy bomb suits, which are essential for safely conducting disposal operations in direct explosive threat situations. The new suits significantly improve the quality of bomb disposal services by ensuring the safety of personnel working in hazardous environments.