We may soon see this while scrolling through social media: influencers talking about European affairs and the atmosphere at EU summits.

The idea was recently floated by the European Council, but it apparently shocked diplomats, according to Politico.

Council officials proposed that member states invite social media influencers to cover Council meetings, as well as ministerial sessions.

The pilot program — for now — will begin in July and will allow the institution “to cooperate with content creators in order to reach new audiences and inform them about the Council’s activities.”

Influencers will gain access to areas inside the Council headquarters in Brussels that are currently open only to accredited journalists, although they will be prohibited from asking questions to ministers and leaders.

“Content creators will be accompanied at all times and will not be treated as media,” a Council official clarified. The same official added that participation will be limited to a maximum of 10 content creators per event, all accompanied by Council staff.

The European Commission has already established cooperation with influencers. Its president, Ursula von der Leyen, frequently meets with influencers and invited them last year to her State of the Union speech, while also sending them kits as part of a recent campaign.

The proposal comes at a time when far-right figures in the EU, such as Jordan Bardella of France’s National Rally, have built massive audiences on social media platforms.

Closing

Nevertheless, the reaction of European government officials at last week’s meeting “was lukewarm,” said one diplomat, who also made a rather ironic comment:

“It sounds like a boomer proposing something very innovative and exciting, and then everyone else ruins the idea with their questions.”

Other European officials do not see much added value in the initiative:

“I don’t see how a TikTok user will understand what the European Council is. Maybe they’ll make a video about the ‘unboxing of the Council conclusions.’”